Author: Mayonghe Melanie Kesiki (Cameroon) | Published on 9 April 2025

 

Read what Melanie says about this activity:

Climate change is a global crisis that affects all countries, and its causes and effects can’t be overlooked. Understanding Climate change also involves how humans have contributed to and increased the warming of the planet. By bringing this into the classroom, students are made to understand how their interactions with the environment have contributed to these changes.

Stage 1: lead-in (10 minutes)

Teacher puts the phrase Climate change on the board and asks students the following question: 

'What words do you associate with the phrase climate change?'

Teacher writes students’ answers on the board. 

Possible answers may include:

  • global warming
  • deforestation
  • weather
  • high temperatures
  • rainfall
  • carbon dioxide. 

The teacher writes the following three words on the chalkboard: 

Yes, No, Unsure and asks students the following question: 

'Do you believe the earth’s climate is getting warmer?'

Response options:

  1. Simple - a show of hands and count the number for each response.
  2. Warmer – put the 3 words in different areas of the classroom rather than the board and ask students to physically move to their chosen response.

Stage 2: context (10 minutes)

Teacher presents pictures (Appendix 1) to the students.

Teacher asks students to discuss what they see with their partners in pairs and share their opinions about the pictures.

The teacher says:

'In pairs, you have 3 minutes to look at the pictures and share your thoughts and opinions.'

The teacher asks students the following questions:

  1. What do these pictures tell you about climate change?
  2. What are the causes of climate change in your community?

Whole class feedback. Acknowledge responses and elicit further responses where needed.

Stage 3: input discussion task (15 minutes)

 The teacher writes on the board:

  1. Causes of Climate change
  2. Consequences
  3. Possible solutions

The teacher then puts students in groups and provides each group with a copy of an article about climate change (Appendix 2).

Teachers says:

'We will now read a short article. You have 5 minutes to read and take notes on the 3 points written on the board. Let’s check – what do they mean?'

Short concept check of boarded points.

'Then, 5 minutes to compare your answers in your group. After this, we will have 5 minutes to discuss together.'

Each group reads and brings out the following points 

  1. Causes of Climate change
  2. Consequences
  3. Possible solutions

The teacher Monitors the groups throughout the activity, offers support where needed and gives time checks every 5 minutes.

Whole class feedback.

Stage 4: extended discussion (15 minutes)

Teacher writes these questions on the board:

  1. What do you think was the most interesting part of the article?
  2. Was there anything in the article that really surprised you? 
  3. Is it ok to worry about climate change? Why or why not?
  4. According to the article, how do humans cause climate change?

The teacher mixes the groups so learners have new peers to discuss with.

Teachers says:

'We will continue to discuss the article. You have 5 minutes to re-read and take notes on the 4 points written on the board as individual work. Let’s check – what do they mean?'

Short concept check of boarded points.

'Then, 5 minutes to share your answers in your group. We will then have a few minutes to discuss together.'

The teacher monitors the groups throughout the activity, offers support where needed and gives time checks as appropriate.

Whole class feedback.

Stage 5: writing (7 minutes)

Teacher writes prompt questions on the board for students to answer.

  1. What have you learned from this lesson?
  2. Do you think climate change is a serious issue? Why / why not?
  3. What 3 actions can YOU take to reduce the effects of climate change / global warming in your community?

Task 1

Teacher says:

'You will now work individually and write a short report. In your report, you will answer the questions on the board. What do they mean?'

Concept check the questions.

'Great! Now, you have 7 minutes to write your report. Let’s start!'

The teacher monitors the class throughout the activity, offers support where needed and gives time checks as appropriate.

Stage 6: conclusion (8 minutes)

Follow on from Stage 5

Task 2

After 7 minutes, students swap their reports with one another and compare similarities and differences. They in turn share what they found different from theirs, to the whole class.

Teacher says:

'Now, we will work in pairs. Swap your books with your partner.

Read and compare your reports.

What ideas are similar or different from your partner’s?

You have 3 minutes to share and compare.'

After students share with their partners, the teacher asks the whole class to share using the following prompts, asking each question one at a time and eliciting answers.

Teachers says:

'What did you find interesting in your partner’s report? 

What did you find different?

Do you agree or disagree with them? Why or why not?'

Stage 7: optional extension activities (5 minutes)

Project/ Assignment

Write a poster to put around your school to sensitize students about the impact of climate change in their communities and in the world at large. 

Snowball Game: Teacher throws a snow ball at students and ask them to say an impact of climate change or one action to take to provide solutions to climate change. They catch the ball and provide the response and exit the class.

Appendix one

Picture A: https://news.mongabay.com/2024/12/climate-change-fuels-african-floods-that-hit-harder-in-vulnerable-regions/

Picture B: https://www.voanews.com/a/chad-seeks-assistance-to-deal-with-floods-as-neighboring-cameroon-pleads-for-help-with-drought-/7743825.html

Picture C: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fvideos%2Fcy43zgyd15vo

Picture D: https://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/article.html/58649/fr.html/climate-change-crisis-africa-beware-of

Picture E: https://www.camer.be/86200/11:1/cameroun-rain-shortage-in-the-far-north-of-cameroon-call-for-help-from-the-lamido-of-garoua.html

 

 

 

Appendix two

Climate Change

Climate change refers to the change in the environmental conditions of the earth. This happens due to many internal and external factors. The change has become a global concern over the last few decades. These changes affect life on the earth in various ways.  There are various impacts on the ecosystem and ecology. Due to these changes, a number of species of plants and animals have gone extinct.

When did it start?

The climate started changing a long time ago due to human activities, but we came to know about it in the last century. During the last century, we started noticing its effect on human life. We started researching climate change and came to know that the earth’s temperature is rising due to a phenomenon called the greenhouse effect. The warming up of earth surface causes many ozone depletions, affects our agriculture, water supply and several other problems.

Reasons for climate change

Although there are hundreds of reasons for these changes, we are only going to discuss the natural and manmade (human) reasons.

Natural reasons

These include volcanic eruption, solar radiation, tectonic plate movement and orbital variations. Due to these activities, the geographical condition of an area becomes harmful for life to survive. Also, these activities raise the temperature of the earth to a great extent causing an imbalance in nature.

Human reasons

Humankind, due to their need and greed has actioned many activities that not only harm the environment but themselves too. Many plant and animal species go extinct due to human activity. Human activities that harm the climate include deforestation, using fossil fuel, industrial waste, a different type of pollution and many more. All these things damage the climate and ecosystem very badly. And some species of animals like the elephant, gorilla, black rhinos, pangolins and birds like the California Condor are on a verge of extinction due to hunting.

Effects Of climatic change

These climatic changes have a negative impact on the environment. The ocean level is rising, glaciers are melting, CO2 in the air is increasing, forest and wildlife are declining, and water life is also getting disturbed due to climatic changes. Apart from that, it is calculated that if this change keeps on going then many species of plants and animals will become extinct. And this will be a heavy loss to the environment.

What will be the future?

If we do not do anything and things continue to go on like right now, then a day in future will come when humans will become extinct from the surface of the earth. But instead of neglecting these problems, if we start acting on them, we can save the earth and our future.

Human mistakes have caused great damage to the climate and ecosystem.  But it is not late to start again and try to undo what we have done until now to damage the environment. And if every human starts contributing positively to the environment, then we can be sure of our existence in the future.

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