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Description
Walk into any community coffee shop and you will find an assortment of people gathered around tables discussing the latest news and events. This conversation model is used as the basis of an interactive role-playing exercise during which students representing various interest groups gather over lunch to chat about climate change. Discussion starter cards that depict human interactions with the natural world prompt stakeholders to express their viewpoints about climate change from the perspective of how they make a living, their interests and culture. As they share their thoughts, pupils will gain insight into their own feelings about the environment while understanding that irrespective of who we are, everyone in the world has a connection to climate change and we must all hear and respect each other if we are to safeguard Earth's future.
General Assessment
Recommendation of how and where to use it
This activity can be used in Grade 5-9 Science lessons to initiate discussions surrounding human impacts on ecosystems, habitats and wildlife and the relationships between humans and natural environments. Students will discover the connection between a person's lived experience and ideas about climate change, which supports Social Studies and Geography concepts related to environmental perceptions and the use of natural resouces. Pupils also examine their own relationship with nature which can encourage classroom conversations about environmental action and global citizenship.
This activity could also become the basis of an action project in which a class extends the discussion into the school cafeteria to survey peers about their environmental concerns. They use the information gathered to identify and plan a school conservation project such as establishing a pollinator garden, picking up litter in a local green space or implementing a school wide "plastic free" campaign.
Relevant Curriculum Units
The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.
- Step 1Select a province
- Alberta
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened by investigating natural systems and their interactions.
- Grade 6
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions.
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Interactions and Ecosystems
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Freshwater and Saltwater Systems
- British Columbia
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 5: Earth materials change as they move through the rock cycle and can be used as natural resources.
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 7: Earth and its climate have changed over geological time
- Manitoba
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Weather
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Water Systems on Earth
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Canada in the Contemporary World: Opportunities and Challenges
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland & Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 5: Earth materials change as they move through the rock cycle and can be used as natural resources.
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Interactions and Ecosystems
- Science 7: Earth and its climate have changed over geological time
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Freshwater and Saltwater Systems
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Earth and Space Systems: Weather
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Interactions and Ecosystems
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Interactions in Our Environment
- Ontario
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Earth and Space Systems: Conservation of Energy & Resources
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Geography
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Natural Resources around the World: Use and Sustainability
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Earth and Space Systems: Heat in the Environment
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Earth and Space Systems: Water Systems
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- :Biology: Sustainable Ecosystems
- Prince Edward Island
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Weather
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Water Systems on Earth
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Interdependence: Atlantic Canada in the Global Community: Environment in the Global Community
- Quebec
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Living Things
- Grade 6
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Living Things
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- The Contemporary World: Environment
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon Territory
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 5: Earth materials change as they move through the rock cycle and can be used as natural resources.
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 7: Earth and its climate have changed over geological time
Themes Addressed
Air, Atmosphere & Climate (1)
- Climate Change
Ecosystems (1)
- Wildlife Protection
