Earth Hour - Investigating Climate Change

Working in pairs students are asked to investigate how news stories about climate change were reported 10 years ago compared to the present day. They then imagine the news about climate change 10 years in the future based upon the actions they can take for climate change today. Students begin by investigating articles about climate change from the past and the present day, comparing and analysing the language and techniques used to attract the attention of readers. Students then determine an action they could do now to fight climate change, and what news this might create 10 years in the future. They then create a news piece around this story, presented to audiences from the future.

Learning goals:

• Students recognise actions we can all take to limit climate change.
• Students identify some of the ways that messages about climate change have been communicated through the news, both in the past and in the present.
• Students recognise some of the techniques and language strategies used to portray information in news articles.
• Students understand some of the steps involved in creating a news piece, including the purpose of headlines and leading paragraphs.
• Students recognise that their own actions for climate change now may become the news stories of the future.
• Students understand the role of Earth Hour in communicating messages about climate change and climate change action.