Student Worksheet

Thought-starter - How can we communicate stories and messages around climate change?

Your task is to create a short film or documentary about climate change, it's risks and impacts, and what we can all do to fight climate change. Similar to the clip shown here.

Earth Hour music video by Axis of Awesome (https://vimeo.com/105846860)

You can decide whether you want to do a short film or a documentary, and you will write your own storyline or plot. If you need some ideas, we've thought up a few scenarios to help spark your imagination.

A day in the life: This documentary describes all the actions of one student over the course of one day and how these actions relate to food and climate change. For example: what you eat, where it comes from, what resources are involved in making, shipping, storing, packaging and preparing these foods. A narrator can describe these behaviours and the impacts.
Climate change on the farm: Students role play various animals that live in an ecosystem and describe how these animals might be affected by climate change. Again students can use a narrator or students can choose to have speaking parts.
An alien invasion: Aliens have landed and are investigating how humans interact with their planet. They are surprised to find that humans are causing damage to the Earth through what they eat and how much they eat. The aliens describe these actions and the consequences of these actions.
200 years from now: It's the future and humans are looking back at the close shave the Earth had with devastating climate change. The narrators in the documentary describe how humans finally managed to successfully address climate change and what actions they took to do this, particularly around food.
Travel show: Students 'visit' different locations around the world and describe what the potential impacts of climate change are on these places and how the people there might be adapting with specific focus on food and agriculture. For example, students could visit a Pacific island and talk about what local communities are doing to address and adapt to climate change impacts. Alternatively, students could visit alpine communities, coastal cities, Arctic villages, or desert towns.

Your video must include information about the following:

Details of the actions that are having a negative impact on climate change
Suggestions for how these actions could be addressed.

In addition, you must also write a short report (at least half a page) showing evidence of:

Research
Storyboard ideas/brainstorming
Script
Individual student roles in production

For some tips on planning a short film, download our Film making tips.

Reflection questions

What were the main impacts of climate change that were identified in the videos?

What actions were identified to minimise these impacts? Which actions do you think would be most effective and why?

What impacts and actions were not addressed? Can you think of anything else that could also have been included?

Which video do you think was most effective at communicating the message of climate change action and why?

Which video did you like the most and why?

Did you enjoy the process of making your film? Why or why not? What could have been improved?

Resources

Cool Australia Climate Change Toolbox
Climate Kids - NASA
Film making tips
Peer Assessment Rubric - Film

Earth Hour - Create a Short Climate Change Film

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