Climate Curricular Materials
These solutions-focused materials prioritize topics, skills, and concepts that are typical in core high school disciplines. Ideally, these lessons can serve as one-for-one replacements for standard curricular elements, or as supplemental resources. Each piece of material can be used on its own, or in conjunction with others, and is designed by our team of practicing high school teachers.
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. This means you are free to use, remix, adapt, build upon these materials in a way that works best for you and your students so long as you provide credit to MIT CATE.
Grid Economics
The rapid progress of renewable energy is often not understood by students, especially in the context of real-life pros and cons associated with various sources of energy. This unit can be taught in a physics class as an extension of a unit on electricity, or as a collaboration in which an economics or social studies teacher could present the economics lessons. In any case, the economics lessons can stand on their own and will fit in many different situations.
Cost of Wind Power vs Time
As wind turbine technology has improved, cost for wind energy has plummeted. This lesson serves to develop skills of graphing and data manipulation by exploring the reasons behind the dramatic improvements in the power of this important source of renewable energy.
Energy
Economics, Math, Physics, Science
Data Analysis and/or Graphing
The West and Environmental Justice
These materials address “Westward Expansion” and environmental justice. The environmental justice portion of the lesson can be situated at any point in a history/social studies curriculum. The lessons ask students to think about the “Land Back” movement in the context of environmental justice and climate change.
Environmental Justice, Government & Policy
, U.S. History
Civic Knowledge, Critical Thinking, Use of Primary Sources
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Students will understand the essence of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set forth by the United Nations. Through critical inquiry and introspection, students will explore what it means to be a “Global Citizen” in the 21st century and how understanding the SDGs empowers us to effect positive change in our communities and beyond.
Sustainability, UN Sustainable Development Goals
English/Language Arts
Communication, Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas, Research
Sustainability Jargon
Students will be familiar with key terms and vocabulary in the field of climate science and sustainability; can be used in any discipline.
Sustainability
English/Language Arts, Generic
Communication, Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas, Research
Sustainability Engagement
Students use their voices to call for change. Connecting to personal core values, essay writing, persuasion, speech writing.
Sustainability
English/Language Arts
Communication, Critical Thinking, Personal Narrative, Persuasive Writing, Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas, Research
Question Bank
Quickfire Math questions about climate change, including: sea level rise, CO2 concentration in the atmosphere, carbon sequestration.
Media/Climate Literacy
Despite being “digital natives” students are eager to improve the skills necessary to better understand and analyze the media they consume. This lesson asks students to investigate and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of evidence across various media when discussing the topic of climate change.
Media Literacy
English/Language Arts, , Science
Civic Knowledge, Critical Thinking, Evaluating for Credibility
Contact Us
Have feedback, suggestions, or concerns about any of our materials? Interested in collaborating or attending one of our conferences or professional development workshops? Email us at cateprogram@mit.edu
Location
Center for Energy and
Environmental Policy Research
and
Education Office, MIT Energy Initiative
MIT Building E19-411, and E19-432 respectively
400 Main Street, 4th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02142-1017
MIT CATE is jointly sponsored by:
