A discussion-based climate lesson for secondary learners and adult groups.
Table of Contents
Learning goals
By the end of this 60-minute session, learners should be able to distinguish weather from climate, separate an observation from a projection, and design a simple action with a measurable outcome.
Materials
Provide paper, pens, a climate graph with its source and dates, and access to our evidence guide. A projector is optional. This page can be printed using the browser’s Print command.
Session plan
- 0–10 minutes — Start with questions. Ask learners what they know and what they want to check. Sort statements into observations, explanations and predictions.
- 10–25 minutes — Read a graph. Identify axes, units, timeframe and baseline. Describe the pattern before proposing a cause.
- 25–40 minutes — Evaluate a claim. Groups identify what evidence would support or challenge a climate statement. Discuss uncertainty and the difference between a local event and a global trend.
- 40–55 minutes — Plan an action. Choose a school or household activity, a baseline, a change and a review date. Consider cost and who has authority to make the change.
- 55–60 minutes — Exit ticket. Each learner writes one evidence-based conclusion and one unresolved question.
Assessment and adaptation
Assess the clarity of reasoning rather than agreement with a slogan. For younger learners, simplify the graph and use familiar local examples. For advanced groups, compare datasets or discuss alternative explanations.