GRADES
7-10
YOUTH FOR THE PLANET
Taking Climate Action in Your Own Community
Students Will Learn ...
To recognize some of the effects climate change is having on communities
around the United States
The main natural and human-made causes of climate change
To identify the actions young people are taking to address the effects
of climate change in their communities
How to make a plan of climate actions they can take at home,
school, or in their own communities
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1
YOUTH FOR THE PLANET
Resource Kit Overview
GRADES
7-10
How It Works
1. Present the slideshow to review climate change
and introduce the idea of taking action to address
it locally (25-35 minutes). Students should take
notes using the Slideshow Note Sheet.
2. Complete one or both activities that accompany
the slideshow to reinforce the lesson.
3. Encourage students to take their climate
action further by completing the Working
Together for Climate Action Student Project Plan.
What You’ll Get
Youth for the Planet Slideshow
(includes teacher notes)
Slideshow Note Sheet
(printable)
Together We Can Take
Climate Action Picture
Book Activity (lesson plan
and printable)
We’re Taking Climate Action!
Bulletin Board Activity
(lesson plan and printable)
Working Together for Climate
Action Student Project Plan
(project plan and printable)
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2
SLIDESHOW:
YOUTH FOR THE PLANET
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
G
GRADES 7-10
Taking Climate Action in Your Own Community
Make your classroom lesson about climate change a meaningful one by focusing on
how students can take climate action in their own community.
What are
some effects of
climate change
that might
impact your
own community?
This slideshow introduces students to
climate change, its main causes, and how
it’s affecting communities around the United
States. It asks students to consider what
actions they can take in their own lives to
mitigate the effects of climate change in
their community. Teacher notes are included
on the slides to support the lesson.
1. B
efore the slideshow: Engage students in a quick discussion:
What do you already know about climate change?
What sorts of things do you hear about climate change online or in your own life?
What actions are people you know taking to address climate change?
2. D
uring the slideshow: Share the information in the teacher notes with your students.
Encourage them to take notes using the Slideshow Note Sheet.
3. After the slideshow: Invite students to share their thoughts:
What did you learn that you didn’t know before? Did anything surprise you?
What actions could you take right away that would address climate change here in
our community?
How would you encourage someone else to take climate action with you?
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3
Date:
Name:
TAKING CLIMATE ACTION IN
YOUR OWN COMMUNITY
PROT
THE PL ECT
ANET
Slideshow Note Sheet
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
G
GRADES 7-10
DIRECTIONS:
Complete this page using the information you learned from watching the slideshow.
1. In your own words, explain the difference between weather and climate change.
2. What are some of the ways climate change is affecting the United States? (List at least 3.)
3. What are some natural causes of climate change?
(List at least 3.)
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4. What are some of the effects of climate change
5. What does “anthropogenic” mean?
that might affect your own community? How so?
PROT
THE PL ECT
ANET
6. What are some anthropogenic causes of climate
change? (List at least 3.)
1.
2.
3.
Slideshow Note Sheet continued on next page.
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4
TAKING CLIMATE ACTION IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY
Slideshow Note Sheet continued
7. What is one way you’re contributing to climate change?
8. How are young people taking climate action throughout the United States?
9. What climate actions can you take at home?
(List at least 3.)
10. What climate actions would you consider taking
at school? (List at least 3.)
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
11. What climate action would you consider working
toward in your community?
PROT
THE PL ECT
ANEdoTyou think it’s a good idea for people to take
12. Why
action against climate change in their communities?
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5
TOGETHER WE CAN
TAKE CLIMATE ACTION!
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
G
GRADES 7-10
Picture Book Activity
Read This First!
Grade Levels: 7-10
|
Time Required: 1-3 class periods
Objectives:
Materials:
Students will watch a slideshow about
climate change, its effects on local
communities, and how people are
working together to address it locally.
Students will work in groups to identify
the most important information from
the slideshow and their own research
to share with elementary-age students.
Students will work in groups to create
an age-appropriate picture book that
shares this information with younger students.
Youth for the Planet
Slideshow
Slideshow Note Sheets
Together We Can Take Climate Action! Picture
Book Planning Pages
Together We Can Take Climate Action!
Storyboard Pages
Blank paper, markers, colored pencils,
pens, stapler
Additional Resources:
World Wildlife Fund – Effects of Climate Change
United Nations: Youth in Action
World Wildlife Fund – Climate
Teacher Instructions
1. Present the slideshow to introduce the issue of climate change and what actions people
can take to address it locally. Have students take notes using the Slideshow Note Sheet.
2. Break your class into groups of 2 to 4. Give each group one of the following prompts to
discuss and respond to.
PROMPTS: 1) What do you feel are the most important ideas in the slideshow and why?
2) Why might it be important to share this information with students younger than you?
3) What additional information might be helpful if you were going to teach a younger person about this topic?
Teacher Instructions continued on next page.
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6
TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE CLIMATE ACTION!
Picture Book Activity continued
Give the groups 5 to 10 minutes to discuss and
write down their thoughts on a piece of blank
paper. Then, have groups share their prompt
and their response with the class. Encourage
students to write down their classmates’ ideas on
their paper as they listen to the responses.
3. Pass out the Planning Pages and give
students time to work together to fill them
out, using the information from the slideshow
and any other resources you choose (see
Additional Resources).
4. Allow students to use the Storyboard
Pages to map out their picture books.
Once they have completed the storyboard,
have them create their picture book using
the supplies listed in the “materials” section.
5. When all groups have finished, have
groups take turns sharing their picture books
with one another.
Helpful Tips
It may be useful to have a few
examples of picture books
present in the room so students
can see how much information
to include on a page, what type
of illustrations to draw, etc.
You may also want to show
students examples of nonfiction
books for children so they
can see how authors have
made real-world concepts
age-appropriate for younger
audiences.
If students need more examples
of how picture books are set up,
YouTube has numerous videos
of nonfiction picture books to
read aloud.
Extension Opportunity:
Reach out to teachers in your local elementary school to see if they’d be
willing to have your students come read their books to their students. This
could be an in-person activity or could even take place over Zoom! You
could also laminate the books and donate them to your elementary
library so younger students could read them on their own.
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7
Date:
Name:
TOGETHER WE CAN
TAKE CLIMATE ACTION!
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
G
GRADES 7-10
Picture Book Planning Page
DIRECTIONS: Fill out the graphic organizer below with the information you feel is most important
for a younger student to understand about climate change and how they can take climate action in
their own lives. Then, consider what type of story would best help a younger student understand this
important issue. Use the 2nd graphic organizer to begin to plan out your story.
What are the most important things a younger student needs to know about ...
... what climate change is?
... how young people are positively
working to address climate change in
the United States?
... how climate change is affecting
people in the United States?
... what climate actions
they can take in their
own lives?
What other information, interesting facts/statistics,
meaningful quotes, etc., do you think you might want
to share with a younger student?
Picture Book Planning Page continued on back.
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8
TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE CLIMATE ACTION!
Picture Book Planning Page continued
Before you begin planning your picture book ...
What
is
your
book’s
topic?
What
willyou
youfocus
focus on?
What
What
isisyour
your
book’s
book’s
topic?
topic?
What
What
will
will
you
focus
on?
on?
What will happen in the beginning of your story?
What will be the turning point in
the story?
Who/what is your main character
and your setting?
What conflict will your main
character face?
How will your story end? What lesson(s) will your
main character learn?
What message do you want younger students to take away from reading your children’s book?
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9
Date:
Name:
TOGETHER WE CAN
TAKE CLIMATE ACTION!
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
G
GRADES 7-10
Picture Book Storyboard Page
DIRECTIONS: Use the boxes below to create an outline for your picture book. Remember, these books
only have one image and a few sentences per page to tell the story. Make every image and sentence
count to share this important message. Use the back of the paper to add more boxes if necessary.
1
2
3
4
5
6
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10
WE’RE TAKING
CLIMATE ACTION!
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
G
GRADES 7-10
Bulletin Board Activity
G
G
G
Read This First!
Grade Levels: 7-10
|
WE’RE
TAKING
CLIMATE
ACTION!
WE’RE
G
TAKING
CLIMATE
ACTION!
G
WE’RE
TAKING
CLIMATE
ACTION!
Time Required: 1 or 2 class periods
Objectives:
Materials:
Students will watch a slideshow about climate
change, its effects on the United States, and
how young people are working together to
address it locally.
Youth for the
Planet Slideshow
Students will work in groups to identify a
variety of different actions they can take within
their own communities to have a positive
impact on climate change.
We’re Taking Climate Action! Bulletin Board
title and borders
Students will work in groups to create a
bulletin board that displays the different
actions they completed.
Students will discover how every student’s
small action adds up to a large amount of
climate activism in their local community by
observing the change in the bulletin board’s
appearance.
Slideshow
Note Sheets
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
We’re Taking Climate Action! Idea Sheet
We’re Taking Climate Action! Badge sheet
Additional Resources:
World Wildlife Fund: What You Can Do To
Fight Climate Change
United Nations: Youth in Action
World Wildlife Fund: Effects of Climate Change
NASA: Climate Kids
Teacher Instructions
1. Before activity: Print and display the We’re Taking Climate Action! bulletin board title and borders.
2. Present the slideshow to introduce the issue of climate change and what actions people can take
to address it locally. Have students take notes using the Slideshow Note Sheet.
Teacher Instructions continued on next page.
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11
WE’RE TAKING CLIMATE ACTION!
Bulletin Board Activity continued
3. Share with students that they are going to be working together to fill the bulletin board with actions
they have taken to address climate change in their own lives.
4. Pass out We’re Taking Climate Action! Idea Sheets. Have students fill their sheets with different
actions teens could take in their homes, at school, or in their community. (Allow them to use their
slideshow notes or the Additional Resources as needed.)
5. Invite students to share a few of their ideas with their classmates
and encourage students to write down any ideas they hear that aren’t
already on their paper.
6. Challenge students to circle at least three actions on the list they
feel they can do. Explain that when they complete one, they will be
given a We’re Taking Climate Action! Badge to fill out and display
on the bulletin board. The class goal is to completely cover the
board with badges so students can see just how quickly many small
changes turn into much larger and substantial change.
7. For the next few days/weeks, allow for a few minutes of class time to be spent on this activity.
8. When the bulletin board is full, or you choose to end the activity, celebrate your students’
accomplishment by taking a group photo in front of your We’re Taking Climate Action! bulletin board.
Teach Multiple Classes?
Extension Opportunity:
If you will be using this activity with several
classes, feel free to create one shared
bulletin board. Students will really be able
to see how fast small, individual actions
can lead to big change if lots of people
participate. Alternatively, you can create
several smaller bulletin boards for each
class, especially if you think they
will enjoy competing to see which class
can fill up their board first.
Ask students to think of ways they can
share their accomplishments with others.
Could it be shared with the school or
local newspaper? Could a photo of the
students and their bulletin board appear
on the district website?
(Note: Ensure you have
parent/guardian permission
for these activities.)
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12
WE’RE TAKING CLIMATE ACTION!
Bulletin Board Title Graphic: Option 1
INSTRUCTIONS: Print, cut out, and display as the title for your classroom bulletin board.
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
G
GRADES 7-10
WE’RE
TAKING
CLIMATE
ACTION!
G
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13
G
GRADES 7-10
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
WE’RE TAKING
CLIMATE ACTION!
INSTRUCTIONS: Print, cut out, and display as the title for your classroom bulletin board.
Bulletin Board Title Graphic: Option 2
WE’RE TAKING CLIMATE ACTION!
WE’RE TAKING CLIMATE ACTION!
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
Bulletin Board Corner Page Graphics
G
INSTRUCTIONS: Print, cut out, and display as the corners of your classroom
bulletin board.
GRADES 7-10
G
G
G
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15
WE’RE TAKING CLIMATE ACTION!
Idea Sheet
INSTRUCTIONS: Fill in each of the boxes below with one thing you believe you can
do to take climate action. Make a plan: Put a star next to three of the actions you
definitely plan on completing.
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
G
GRADES 7-10
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16
WE’RE TAKING CLIMATE ACTION!
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
Student Badges
G
INSTRUCTIONS: Print out several copies of this page and cut out the badges.
As students take action against climate change, have them fill out a badge and staple
it to the bulletin board.
GRADES 7-10
NAME
NAME
ACTION TAKEN:
ACTION TAKEN:
NAME
NAME
ACTION TAKEN:
ACTION TAKEN:
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17
WORKING TOGETHER
FOR CLIMATE ACTION
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
G
GRADES 7-10
Student Project Plan
This project plan is a perfect way to wrap up your lessons on this important topic. Students will
create their very own campaign to take climate action at their school or in their own community.
Read This First!
Grade Levels: 7-10
|
Time Required: Will vary based on teacher preference/time allowed
Objectives:
Materials:
Students will watch a slideshow about
climate change, its effects on the United
States, and how people are working together
to address it locally.
Students will work in groups to identify ways
in which they could positively advocate for
climate action within their school or local
community.
Youth for the Planet
Slideshow
Slideshow Note
Sheets
Working Together
for Climate Action
Project Planning
Sheets
Students will choose an action they
wish to advocate for and will plan how they
will raise awareness in the community and
push for that change.
Additional Resources:
Students will implement their plan, monitor
how it progresses, and reflect
on its success.
United Nations: Youth in Action
World Wildlife Fund: What You Can Do To
Fight Climate Change
World Wildlife Fund: Effects of Climate Change
NASA: Climate Kids
Student Project Plan continued on next page.
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18
WORKING TOGETHER FOR CLIMATE ACTION!
Student Project Plan continued
Teacher Instructions
1. Present the slideshow to introduce the issue of climate change and what actions people can
take to address it locally. Have students take notes using the Slideshow Note Sheet.
2. Pass out the Working Together for Climate Action project planning sheets.
3. Explain that just like the examples
in the slideshow of real people taking
action to combat climate change in their
own local communities, your students
are now going to plan a campaign that
will have a real, positive effect on climate
change in their own community.
4. Review the Working Together for
Climate Action project planning
sheets with the students, discussing
each step and what it requires students
to do. Set a timeline for each step so
students have a deadline in mind as
they begin to work.
5. Allow students to form groups of
2 to 4 and begin planning their projects.
Meet briefly with each group as they
plan, to help them choose a project that
is doable. Consider things like time,
resources needed, sustainability, etc.
Young people taking
climate action in Florida
PROBLEM:
Miami Beach sits on a barrier island
and is almost directly at sea level.
This means sea-level rise is already
having an impact on the city, and
the problems associated with it will
only get worse in the future if no
action is taken.
Young people taking climate action in Oregon
PROBLEM:
Students in Portland, Oregon,
are becoming frustrated by
what they believe is lack of
action regarding climate change
on the part of Oregon's
government leaders.
ACTION:
Students organized a school
walkout and protest to raise
awareness.
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19
Date:
Name:
WORKING TOGETHER
FOR CLIMATE ACTION
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
G
GRADES 7-10
Student Project Planning Pages
DIRECTIONS: Complete each of the steps below to plan a project to encourage your school
or community to work together for climate action.
Group Members
STEP 1:
Choose an Action
STEP 2:
Create Your Action Plan
STEP 3:
STEP 4:
Take Action!
Reflect on Your Work
DUE DATE:
DUE DATE:
DUE DATE:
DUE DATE:
STEP 1: Choose an Action
On your own, answer each of the questions below. Then, meet with your group members to
discuss your responses and agree on a project idea as a group.
1. W
hat are some ways your community could change that would positively affect climate
change? (Try to list at least 5.) Note: If you get stuck, look at the Climate Action Project
Examples on page 22 for some ideas.
2. Which one of these do you feel most interested in changing and why?
3. Share your list and your first choice with your group. After listening to everyone’s choices, decide together which one action you will work toward. Write it in the box on the next page.
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20
WORKING TOGETHER FOR CLIMATE ACTION!
Student Project Planning Pages
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
G
GRADES 7-10
We are taking action against climate change by encouraging our community to:
We chose this action because:
4. As a group, brainstorm a few ways you might get members of your community (e.g., business
owners, families, school or local officials, etc.) to agree to take this action. You will be discussing these ideas with your teacher, so write down any notes/ideas/questions below.
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21
WORKING TOGETHER FOR CLIMATE ACTION!
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
Student Project Planning Pages
G
GRADES 7-10
5. Meet with your teacher to review your plan. If your teacher approves it, move on to Step 2.
If your teacher does not approve your plan, follow their instructions to make the necessary changes before moving on.
TEACHER APPROVAL
Not yet. Make the following changes and resubmit:
Yes! Move on to Step 2.
Teacher’s Initials
Date:
Teacher’s Initials
Date:
Climate Action Project Examples
Choose one of these ideas or use them to come up with a different idea of your own.
At School:
Propose solar panels.
Encourage your school to turn off lights in
classrooms that aren’t being used.
Donate leftover food from the cafeteria to local food
banks or homeless shelters.
Start a composting program in the school cafeteria.
Ensure recycling bins are accessible around the
school and encourage students to use them.
Petition the school board to begin using energyefficient light bulbs in school buildings.
Work to have the thermostat in the school set to the
most energy-efficient setting for each season.
Encourage fellow students to walk or bike to school
when possible.
Ask teachers to use digital platforms for notes and
assignments and only print when necessary.
Start an Eco-Club to focus on environmental issues
at school.
Plan green spaces like pollinator plants to support
bees or vegetable gardens around your school.
(This would work well with the composting program
mentioned above!)
In Your Community:
Petition local storeowners to reduce their use
of plastic by charging for bags, giving discounts
for people who use reusable bags, getting rid
of Styrofoam carry-out packaging, or single-use
utensils, etc.
Organize a cleanup event to improve local spaces.
Raise awareness of local farmers markets so people
buy local produce and reduce carbon emissions from
food transportation.
Create a campaign to get more people to take public
transportation.
Advocate for green spaces in your local community
and hold a tree-planting event.
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22
WORKING TOGETHER FOR CLIMATE ACTION!
Student Project Planning Pages
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
G
GRADES 7-10
Suggest steps for completing Step 2: Complete Your Action Plan:
1. Define the issue: Clearly describe what
action you want the community to take
and why.
6. Educate: Share your knowledge with your
community! Let them know why they should
agree to your proposed change.
2. Research: Gather data, facts, and evidence
that support your case for change.
7. Use social media ... carefully! Share
information and updates, and encourage
your community to join you in making this
important change.
3. Craft a strong message: Develop a
memorable message that explains the
problem and the benefits of your
proposed change.
4. Raise awareness: Create eye-catching
visuals or social media messaging that
effectively communicates your message.
(Note: If using social media, pay careful
attention to the Important Tips for
Communication page.)
5. Talk to community leaders: Ask to meet
with your school principal, student council,
school board, township supervisors, mayor,
or other individuals who have influence in
your community, and share your plan with
them. Ask for their support and assistance.
8. Collect signatures or support:
Create a petition or collect signatures from
community members who support your
cause and want to take action. Share this
petition/list with the decision-makers who
can help you take action (e.g., businesses,
city council members, your principal, etc.).
9. Create partnerships: Collaborate with local
businesses, schools, nonprofits, and other
organizations to share your message.
10. Set a deadline: Action campaigns can’t
go on forever. Set a date for when you want
to see your action set into motion.
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23
WORKING TOGETHER FOR CLIMATE ACTION!
Student Project Planning Pages
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
G
GRADES 7-10
STEP 2: Create Your Action Plan
Fill out the following Action Plan table to help get your project organized. Once complete,
meet with your teacher to review your plan.
Our Goal:
DIRECTIONS: As a group, discuss the tasks you will need to complete throughout this Action Plan. List the tasks,
who is responsible for completing them, what is needed for each task, and when the tasks need to be completed.
Tasks to be completed
Who will do this task
Resources needed
Task completion date
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What challenges might your group run into while completing this project? List them below and discuss how
you will address them.
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24
WORKING TOGETHER FOR CLIMATE ACTION!
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
Student Project Planning Pages
G
GRADES 7-10
Important Tips for Communication:
In addition to speaking to your peers, you will probably be communicating
with adults as well, through petitions, letters, phone calls, emails, or in-person
meetings. It will be important to remember a few important tips when talking
with these individuals.
Be polite. This means expressing gratitude, using appropriate titles (Ms. Brown, Dr. Collins,
etc.), and saying “please.”
Don’t be overly familiar. These are adult leaders, not friends. Use “Dear” not “Hey.” Avoid slang.
You don’t want your language to be unnatural, but it should not sound like a text message either.
Explain who you are and why you want to meet with them right away. They need to know
why you’re asking for their time.
After you introduce yourself, explain the action you want the community to take in a clear,
concise way. You want them to understand the importance of this issue through strong data that
supports your point of view.
Then state what you would like them to do. What action are you hoping they will take to enact
solutions or impact the problem? Can you offer any practical help to facilitate their action?
Close by thanking them for their time and stating how they can reach you if they have
questions.
If you want to initiate a conversation (phone, Zoom, or in person), you should first reach out
with a brief introductory email. This should give the recipient the general information about who
you are and why you would like to meet. State how much time you are requesting and make sure
you honor the commitment if they agree to a meeting by showing up on time and well prepared
to discuss your idea.
TEACHER APPROVAL
Not yet. Make the following changes and resubmit:
Yes! Move on to Step 3.
Teacher’s Initials
Date:
Teacher’s Initials
Date:
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25
WORKING TOGETHER FOR CLIMATE ACTION!
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
Student Project Planning Pages
G
GRADES 7-10
STEP 3: Take Action!
This step may take a few days or even a few weeks. Use the progress check-in boxes below when
you meet with your group throughout this stage. Your teacher may meet with you during these
check-ins and offer suggestions for you as you move forward.
Group:
Progress Check-In #:
Date:
What we’ve accomplished so far:
Next steps:
Teacher input:
By this point, you should be almost finished with your action plan. As a group, arrange
to wrap up any final actions and get ready to move on to Step 4!
Additional Progress Check-In sheets on next page.
© 2024 WWF. All rights reserved by World Wildlife Fund, Inc. WWF® and ©1986 Panda Symbol are owned by WWF. All rights reserved. | wildclassroom.org
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Group:
Progress Check-In #:
Date:
What we’ve accomplished so far:
Next steps:
Teacher input:
Group:
Progress Check-In #:
Date:
What we’ve accomplished so far:
Next steps:
Teacher input:
© 2024 WWF. All rights reserved by World Wildlife Fund, Inc. WWF® and ©1986 Panda Symbol are owned by WWF. All rights reserved. | wildclassroom.org
27
WORKING TOGETHER FOR CLIMATE ACTION!
Student Project Planning Pages
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
G
GRADES 7-10
STEP 4: Reflect on Your Work
Respond to the prompts below as you reflect on the work you did for this project.
What we did:
What we learned:
How I helped my group:
My thoughts and feelings as I completed this project were:
© 2024 WWF. All rights reserved by World Wildlife Fund, Inc. WWF® and ©1986 Panda Symbol are owned by WWF. All rights reserved. | wildclassroom.org
28
WORKING TOGETHER FOR CLIMATE ACTION!
Student Project Planning Pages
YOUTH FOR
THE PLANET
G
GRADES 7-10
STEP 4: Reflect on Your Work continued
If we did this project again, we would:
At the end of this project, we have accomplished:
Next year, students could continue the work we’ve done so far by:
We were most successful at:
Now that we’ve completed this project, here is what I would like to do next to continue taking climate action.
Meet with your teacher to discuss your reflections.
© 2024 WWF. All rights reserved by World Wildlife Fund, Inc. WWF® and ©1986 Panda Symbol are owned by WWF. All rights reserved. | wildclassroom.org
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