3-6 Inquiry Guide
Chapter 1. What is Climate Change and Why Care
This chapter consists of three guided inquiries that start with a provocation and culminate with ideas to take action.
Contributors: Lynn Bristoll and Judy Halpern
Video guide for Chapter 1. What is Climate Change and Why Care. Watch here or in our Youtube Playlist.
In this initial inquiry, students will explore and learn about the differences between weather and climate and understand the basic scientific principles of climate change through books, videos and interpretations of an infographic. You may find there are more activities than a class can complete. Several activities have been included so that every kind of learner can find ideas, questions, and activities that inspire learning that leads to action.
Background information for educators on some climate change basics including:
- Climate vs. Weather
- Greenhouse effect
- Climate Change Impacts
- Canadian’s climate change knowledge & understanding
Students will explore climate change concepts based on a non-fiction text and explore how climate is different from weather.
Resources:
- What is Climate Change? by Gail Herman, chapter 1 sound bite (can be retrieved from: https://soundcloud.com/penguin-audio/what-is-climate-change-by-gail)
- Other possible stories from this list: Climate Action Books for Kids
In this Inquiry, students will use visual literacy skills to interpret an infographic that explains climate change concepts.
Resources:
Students will watch videos to obtain solid background information on climate change concepts including the carbon footprint of the food we eat.
Resources:
- Ideas adapted from A Walking Curriculum by Gillian Judson
- Access to the Internet
Chapter 1 Curricular Connections
Curricular connections | Concepts |
Science | Sustainability Stewardship Ecosystems Interdependence Changes Cycles Climate Conservation Action Innovation |
Language | Critical literacy Media forms Reading Text features Text forms Inference Retelling Restating Communication |
Social Studies | Physical features Human-environmental interactions |
Physical Education and Health and Wellness | Enjoyment Motivation Participation Outdoor education |
The Arts | Composition Interpretation Symbolism |
Math | Data literacy |