Students will review potential impacts of climate change on Michigan and determine both adaptive and individual mitigation strategies. Through an optional service learning project, they will get the word out about climate change and that actions can be taken to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

Students will answer these essential questions:

What can be done to help mitigate climate change?

What can one person do?

Subject/Target Grade

Science and Social Studies/ Middle School and High School

Duration

Two 45-50 minute periods – Classroom setting, School grounds

Materials

From MEECS Climate Change Resource DVD

• What Can I Do Instructional PowerPoint 

per class

• Six Reasons Why We Should Prepare for Climate Change in Michigan (transparency master or PowerPoint slides 4-6) 

• Michigan’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector (transparency master) 

• Guiding Principle for Informed Climate Decisions (teacher resource) 

• For Optional Service Learning Activity:

– Template for DOT Tree Leaves (teacher resource) 

– Poster board or other materials you choose to make available for students to create education materials.

– Materials for making a display for ‘Do One Thing’ commitments (Example: tree branches to assemble a tree of DOTS, large public iceberg display with goal markers, etc.)

– Paper (recycled) or access to computer spreadsheet for recording a school’s DOTS.

– Access to a computer with internet to register your DOT project (not required).

per group

• Climate Change Review student activity 

• Optional Service Learning Activity:

– Education Campaign Preparation (student activity) 

– Campaign Follow-Up (student activity) 

per student

• Adaptation or Mitigation (student activity) 

• Climate Change Check Sheet (student resource)