Let's create continuous conversations about climate change education: Spreading the Sediment of Science!

Sustainability Engagement ELA Lesson

Provided by: MIT Climate Action Through Education

Lesson Plans Grades 9-12

Synopsis

In this lesson, students will learn about the definition and origin of sustainability and design a sustainability engagement project or write a speech that connects their values to a sustainability issue.
As the resource notes, in the video Body Language & Gestures (5:07-8:10), the speaker uses the middle finger as an example of a gesture. Teachers can either omit this video entirely or stop the video at 7:00, as the speaker's point is made before this.

Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, English Language Arts

Authors: Kathryn Teissier du Cross

Region: United States, Global

Languages: English

Positives

The Google Slides presentation has a playful tone and will keep students engaged.
This lesson includes a few resources to help students with public speaking, which can be valuable throughout their educational journeys.

Prerequisites

The video on Slide 5 of the Sustainability Engagement Project Inspiration - MIT CATE slide deck discusses sexual education and how it should be taught in schools. Additionally, the video on Slide 12 is unavailable.
Example 1 for the Student Project Examples talks about menstrual products.
The speaker in The 7 Secrets of the Greatest Speakers in History says the word "effing" but does not use the actual word.
The student journal instructions page for the No Impact Project references the documentary No Impact Man. However, the lesson does not include a link to this video, and it is not free to watch. Instead, students can use a carbon footprint calculator to determine the areas they can be more sustainable.

Differentiation & Implementation

Students should consider giving students both options for the final project, depending on student likes and needs.
There may be some students, especially those with anxiety or a language barrier, who won't benefit from presenting in front of a whole class. These students can be given the option to present in front of a teacher or record their presentation.
Some students, when given the Sustainability Engagement Project Inspiration slides, may become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of problems connected to the environment and climate change. It may benefit students and also save class time if teachers ask students to choose 2-3 topics they are interested in and watch just those related videos.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.