Climate Vocabulary

Lesson Plans

Grades6, 7, 8Earth and Space Sciences, English Language Arts

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by OER Project

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What it is

In this module from the OER Project: Climate, students will work with climate change-related terms through games and other activities.
Students will explore commonly misused words, play a vocabulary game, create trivia questions, and complete a Mad Libs to become more familiar with and proficient in climate change vocabulary.
This is one of many lessons in the online Climate course by OER Project.

Teaching tips

Positives

This module includes multiple opportunities for students to interact with each other.
Students will love coming up with trivia questions to stump their classmates.

Prerequisites

Teachers will need to assemble the spinners for the vocabulary game ahead of time.
This module is intended for students who are already familiar with climate change and some related terms.

Differentiation & Implementation

For the Mad Libs activity, students may benefit from a printed copy or knowing how to use strikethrough in a document editor to use the process of elimination and have a visual representation of unused words in the word bank.
In the spirit of Mad Libs, teachers can ask students to come up with three adjectives, five nouns, and an adverb ahead of time, without seeing the paragraph they will be used in. Students can then write their pre-selected words in and, after seeing the silly version, make corrections so the paragraph makes more sense.
These activities can be used to break up a unit exploring climate change.

From the scientist review

This lesson defines different words that are essential to know while learning about climate and climate change. Students will also learn about the importance of having a common definition for words. This lesson is a great lesson to include while the topics of climate and climate change are being introduced to students. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 6, 7, 8
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, English Language Arts
Other types: Activity - Classroom, Worksheets, Games
Language: English
Location: Earth
Provider: OER Project
Authors: OER Project: Climate
Published: August 14, 2025
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.7.6 + 6 more

Core

Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.7.6Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.4Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

MS-ESS3-5.Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
MS-ESS3-D.Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming). Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities, and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and activities. (MS-ESS3-5)

New Jersey Climate Education Hub

English Language Arts

W.RW.6.7Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, metacognition/self- correction, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
SL.PE.7.1Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
L.KL.6.2Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.

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