SUMMARY

In schools nationwide, educators are hoping to empower students with knowledge and inspire them to dream up ways to ensure a better climate future. At a high school in Bloomington, Indiana, students pitched their ideas to scientists this past spring. WFYI investigative education reporter Lee Gaines reports.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Who did the students pitch their ideas to?
2. How do members of the community outside the high school help with the project?
3. Why do many educators feel unprepared to teach about climate change?
4. What is geoengineering?
5. What are some of the ideas that students came up with?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

• Do you have any ideas for addressing climate change? It doesn't have to solve the whole problem all at once. Brainstorm and sketch out an idea that could be applied locally to help:
  
  • reduce use of fossil fuels
  • protect people and the environment from heat, drought or other effects of climate change
  • address health concerns related to climate change

Media literacy: Do you think you learn differently when working on a creative project rather than just reading about a topic? How do you think project-based learning helps students?

Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?

FOR MORE

What students can do: For more inspiration, watch the following video and discuss — how can members of a community work together to address the impacts of climate change locally? Who should be involved?

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