Art Lesson: Research Youth Climate Heroes
Lesson Plan
2 hours 15 minutesGrades9, 10, 11, 12Visual and Performing Arts
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Written by Carolyn McGrath
About this lesson
In this lesson, students discover, share, and evaluate what young people around the globe are doing to address climate change and use this information as the basis for a portrait.
Inquire: Students think about how young people are responding to the climate crisis.
Investigate: Students use the Padlet to select and read about three youth climate leaders.
Inspire: Students design slides to summarize the work of the activists and reflect on the artists’ impact, then sketch an idea for their portrait.
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Everything you need to teach it
How to edit these materials (video)Teaching tips
Suggestions
- The Inspire section can occur over two class periods or be extended longer. Students can create their climate leader slide in one class period and present it in another class period.
- Students are introduced to a diverse range of global youth climate leaders and learn that climate activism includes environmental justice.
- This lesson aligns with New Jersey social studies and career readiness standards.
- Students begin to identify ways that they, as young people, have agency in the fight against climate change and climate inequities.
- Students learn how to use a global issue as the source of their subsequent artwork and should be encouraged to select youth climate leaders from historically underrepresented demographics or regions.
Prerequisites
- This is lesson 2 of 3 in our 9th-12th grade Art Unit: Portraits.
- This lesson should follow a basic introduction to climate change science, exploration of global and local impacts, and climate change solutions.
- Teachers may want to curate a list of global youth climate leaders who represent communities or groups that are underrepresented.
- Teachers and students should know how to access and navigate Padlet or select another school-accessible online platform.
- Students should know how to work on Google Slides or a similar format.
Differentiation
- Students can complete the projects individually or in pairs.
- The Padlet exploration can be done as a whole class or as independent work. For students who need support working independently, teachers can assign them three youth activists to explore.
- If students have trouble selecting one activist, they can pick the person who is closest in age to them.
- Students can choose to go outside of the Padlet for information, but they should use the C.R.A.A.P. test to determine the validity of their source. A video explaining the test is linked in the Padlet.
From the scientist review
This lesson plan includes information about youth climate activists and their motivation and actions for addressing climate change around the world. The video is short, focuses on the activists' individual motivation behind taking climate action, and introduces the idea of climate justice. The information presented in the provided articles links to information and other news articles where needed. The profiles on the climate activists may get outdated over time but are still useful for the lesson. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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About the teacher writer
Carolyn McGrath
K-12 Art Teacher
Carolyn McGrath has been an art educator since 1998. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art, English, and Psychology from Rutgers University, a Certificate in Art Education from Parsons School of Design, and a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Art from the Maine College of Art. She is a certified K–12 Art Educator in the state of New Jersey and has received multiple honors for her teaching, including the Governor’s Educator of the Year Award and recognition from the New Jersey Art Education Association for excellence in arts education.
