Community Responses to Climate Disaster Recovery

• In this media literacy activity, students compare two conflicting perspectives on effective recovery from climate disasters. 
• Students read an opinion piece and the summary of a governmental report, and analyze the ideas presented using guiding questions. 

Positives

• The lesson plan contains possible questions for media decoding that are differentiated based on what subject you teach: social studies, science, ELA, and media literacy.
• The lesson plan and student activity worksheet can be downloaded and used offline.

Additional Prerequisites

• Teachers should download and review the How to Use Materials section associated with this activity. A free account with Project Look Sharp is required to do this.
• The activity time may vary depending on the Educator's approach.

Differentiation

• This activity can be used as an introductory exercise, instead of an entire lesson, by selecting one or two questions to lead a lively ten-minute classroom decoding.
  
• Students can be encouraged to write a letter to the editor or the leader of their local community asking for action to be taken regarding an identified climate challenge.
• To focus this lesson on social-emotional learning, classes can discuss community resilience, mental health impacts of natural disasters, and injustices related to relief efforts.
• Similar resources include this video about surviving a climate disaster, this lesson about the emotional impact of hurricanes, and this personal story of a hurricane in Florida.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.