Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Understand the concept of Global Climate Change: The students should be able to define and explain what global climate change is, and its potential impacts on the environment and human societies.

2. Recognize the causes of Global Climate Change: The students should be able to identify the major factors responsible for global climate change, with a focus on human activities and natural processes such as volcanic eruptions and solar radiation.

3. Comprehend the effects of Global Climate Change: The students should be able to describe the various effects of global climate change on the environment, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and changes in ecosystems.

Secondary Objectives:

1. Encourage critical thinking and discussion: The teacher should foster an environment that promotes critical thinking and open discussion about global climate change, its causes, and its effects.

2. Promote awareness and responsibility: The students should be encouraged to reflect on their own role in global climate change and how they can contribute to mitigating its effects.

Introduction (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Review of Pre-requisite Knowledge: The teacher begins by reviewing some key concepts from previous lessons that are necessary for understanding global climate change. These include the greenhouse effect, the role of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and weather patterns. The teacher can use a quick quiz or a couple of interactive questions to jog the students' memory and ensure they are ready for the new lesson.

2. Problem Situations as Starters: The teacher then presents two problem situations to pique the students' interest and set the stage for the day's lesson. The first situation could be about a coastal city that is experiencing frequent floods and erosion due to rising sea levels. The second could be about a region that is facing prolonged droughts, affecting agriculture and leading to food shortages. The teacher asks the students to think about what could be causing these problems and how they might be connected.

3. Real-world Contextualization: The teacher emphasizes the importance of understanding global climate change by relating it to real-world issues. They might discuss the recent news about the melting polar ice caps, the increase in the number and intensity of wildfires, or the shifts in migration patterns of certain species. The teacher can use visuals or short video clips to make these issues more tangible and relatable.

4. Topic Introduction and Curiosities: The teacher finally introduces the topic of global climate change, explaining that it is a long-term shift in the Earth's climate due to natural and human causes. The teacher shares a few curiosities to grab the students' attention, such as:

   • The fact that the Earth's average temperature has increased by about 1 degree Celsius since the 19th century, and most of this increase has occurred in the past 40 years.
   • The concept of a 'tipping point', where certain effects of climate change become irreversible, such as the complete loss of the polar ice caps or the extinction of certain species.
   • The idea that even though climate change is a global issue, it can have local impacts that we might be able to observe in our own communities.

By the end of the introduction, students should be engaged, curious, and ready to delve deeper into the topic of global climate change.

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Understanding Global Climate Change (5 - 7 minutes)
   • The teacher reintroduces the topic of global climate change, emphasizing that it is a long-term shift in the Earth's climate and not just about changes in weather.
   • The teacher explains that global climate change is a result of the greenhouse effect, where certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat from the sun, leading to a rise in temperature.
   • To help students understand this, the teacher can use a simple diagram or a short video showing how the greenhouse effect works.
2. Causes of Global Climate Change (8 - 10 minutes)
   • The teacher then moves on to discuss the causes of global climate change. They should explain that while natural processes like volcanic eruptions and solar radiation play a part, human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, are the primary drivers of climate change.
   • The teacher can use a few examples to illustrate this, such as how burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere, and how deforestation reduces the Earth's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, leading to more of it being trapped in the atmosphere.
   • The teacher may also touch on other human activities that contribute to climate change, such as industrial processes, waste disposal, and agricultural practices.
3. Effects of Global Climate Change (7 - 8 minutes)
   • The teacher then explains the various effects of global climate change, both current and potential future impacts. These may include rising sea levels, extreme weather events, shifts in precipitation patterns, changes in ecosystems and habitats, and impacts on human health.
   • They can use maps, graphs, or real-world examples to illustrate these effects. For instance, they can show a map of the world's coastlines and how they might be affected by a few meters of sea-level rise, or a graph showing the increase in the number and intensity of hurricanes over the past century.
4. Mitigation and Adaptation (5 - 7 minutes)
   • Finally, the teacher touches on the concepts of mitigation and adaptation. They explain that while it's important to reduce the causes of climate change (mitigation), we also need to prepare for the changes that are already happening or are inevitable (adaptation).
   • The teacher can give examples of both mitigation and adaptation strategies at different scales, from global agreements like the Paris Agreement to local efforts like building sea walls or creating green spaces in cities to absorb excess heat.
   • They should emphasize that everyone, from governments and organizations to individuals, has a role to play in mitigating and adapting to climate change.

By the end of the development phase, students should have a clear understanding of what global climate change is, what causes it, what its effects are, and what can be done about it. The teacher should also have created an environment that encourages students to think critically about the topic and its implications.

Feedback (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Assessing Understanding (3 - 4 minutes)

   • The teacher can conduct a quick review of the main points covered in the lesson by asking students to share their understanding. This can be done through a class discussion, a short quiz, or an interactive activity.
   • The teacher can ask questions like:
     1. "Can someone explain to me what global climate change is?"
     2. "What are the main factors that cause global climate change?"
     3. "What are some potential effects of global climate change?"
   • The teacher can also invite students to share any real-world examples they know of that illustrate the causes or effects of climate change.

2. Connecting Theory with Practice (2 - 3 minutes)

   • The teacher should then guide the students in reflecting on how the lesson connects with real-world situations. They can ask questions like:
     1. "How does understanding global climate change help us make sense of the environmental issues we see in the world today?"
     2. "Can you think of any ways in which the causes and effects of climate change are relevant to your local community or country?"

3. Encouraging Individual Reflection (2 - 3 minutes)

   • The teacher can then ask students to take a moment to reflect on the lesson and write down their answers to the following questions:
     1. "What was the most important concept you learned today?"
     2. "What questions do you still have about global climate change?"
   • The students can share their responses with the class, or they can keep their reflections private if they prefer.

4. Summarizing and Previewing Next Lesson (1 minute)

   • To wrap up the lesson, the teacher can summarize the main points and key takeaways from the lesson. They can also provide a brief preview of the next lesson, which could focus on specific aspects of climate change, such as the role of carbon sinks, the effects on biodiversity, or the impacts on human health and well-being.

By the end of the feedback stage, the teacher should have a good sense of how well the students have understood the lesson and what areas might need to be revisited in future lessons. The students should also feel confident in their understanding of global climate change and its implications, as well as curious to learn more.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Summary and Recap (2 - 3 minutes)

   • The teacher begins by summarizing the main points of the lesson. They reiterate that global climate change is a long-term shift in the Earth's climate, primarily caused by human activities and natural processes. They remind the students of the major factors that contribute to climate change, the potential effects on the environment, and the need for both mitigation and adaptation strategies.
   • The teacher can use visual aids or a quick review quiz to reinforce these key points. They might also ask the students to share their own understanding of these concepts or to explain them in their own words.

2. Connection of Theory, Practice, and Applications (1 - 2 minutes)

   • The teacher then explains how the lesson connected theory with practice. They highlight how the theoretical understanding of global climate change helps us make sense of the real-world environmental issues we see today. They discuss how recognizing the causes and effects of climate change can inform our actions and decision-making, both at the individual and societal levels.
   • The teacher can provide examples of how scientific research on climate change has led to the development of renewable energy technologies, changes in agricultural practices, and international agreements on emission reductions.

3. Additional Materials (1 minute)

   • The teacher suggests some additional materials for the students to explore to deepen their understanding of global climate change. These could include documentaries like "An Inconvenient Truth" or "Chasing Ice," websites like NASA's Climate Change portal, or books like "The Uninhabitable Earth" by David Wallace-Wells.
   • They can also recommend activities such as calculating their carbon footprint, researching local climate change initiatives, or participating in a climate change simulation game.

4. Relevance to Everyday Life (1 - 2 minutes)

   • Finally, the teacher underscores the importance of the topic for everyday life. They explain that understanding global climate change is not just about learning scientific facts, but also about being informed citizens and responsible stewards of the Earth.
   • They discuss how the choices we make, from our mode of transportation to our diet, can contribute to or mitigate climate change. They also emphasize the importance of being aware of how climate change might affect our local communities, our countries, and the world at large.
   • The teacher can end the lesson by reminding the students that they have the power to make a difference, both through their individual actions and by advocating for policies and practices that promote sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change.

By the end of the conclusion, the students should feel confident in their understanding of global climate change and its implications, as well as inspired to learn more and take action. The teacher should feel satisfied that they have provided a comprehensive and engaging lesson on a complex and urgent topic.