Student Webinar:  Working Together to Address the Challenge of Climate Change

April 14, 2022

Suggested Pre- and Post- Webinar Activities

EGLE Classroom's Earth Day Student Webinar aims to help young people understand what EGLE is doing to address the challenges of a changing climate in Michigan. Participants will learn directly from EGLE staff about what is happening at the state, community, and individual levels and find out what they can do to help at home and at school. 

Learning Outcomes 

After participating in this webinar, students should be able to: 

1. Describe at least one way that climate change impacts Michigan's environment and/or human health. 

2. Explain actions EGLE is taking to transition to carbon neutrality, protect human health, and prevent flooding and water quality issues.  

3. Give an example of an activity that can be done at home or at school to mitigate climate change causes or adapt to climate change impacts. 

Background Information 

Finding solutions to climate change requires the combined efforts of individuals, communities, governments, and business. People can address climate change impacts in two primary ways: Mitigation and Adaptation. Mitigation refers to actions that address the root causes of climate change and includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as activities like carbon capture and storage. Adaptation means finding ways to prepare for, respond to, and learn to live with the effects of climate change that are already inescapable. Both these approaches are necessary for humans to effectively address the impacts of climate change on our communities.  

EGLE has developed the MI Healthy Climate Plan to outline a path to carbon neutrality by 2050. The plan focuses on the ways we can make the largest reductions to greenhouse gas emissions across the state, which is a mitigation strategy. EGLE also promotes adaptation through education and outreach around climate resilience. Examples of EGLE's work in each of these areas will be covered in this webinar, along with ways that you as individuals and groups can take action to address climate change. 

Suggested Pre-Webinar activities*: 

For all ages:

Find out how much the annual temperatures where you live have deviated from the average since 1895 by "downloading your Warming Stripes" What do you notice about your region's warming stripes? Do they look different than other parts of the country or world?   

Resources for deeper exploration:

EGLE supported the development of six Michigan-based environmental education curriculum units for grades 3-12 that are available to educators. Topics include Climate Change, Energy, Water Quality, Air Quality, Land Use, and Ecosystems and Biodiversity. More information is available by visiting the Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Support series website. All units are freely available for use and remixing at Michigan GoOpen - MEECS.  

---

Suggested Post-Webinar Activities: 

For all ages:

• Using the Climate Change Check Sheet from the MEECS Climate Change unit, choose one thing you want to do to help address climate change. Share what you chose with the class or write a paragraph explaining your choice.  
• Learn about the Prompt for the Planet program based on the work of Amanda Gorman, the U.S. Youth Poet Laureate. Submit your response to the prompt to be featured on the website! 

Extend and Apply your Learning about Climate: 

Upper Elementary to Middle:

Choose an aspect of climate change you want to learn more about. Research the connections between weather and climate, the atmosphere, water, energy, and plants and animals at NASA's Climate Kids website. Read, complete activities, play games, and watch videos to learn more.  

Middle to High School:

• Update your model of Earth's systems to include causes of climate change and measurable impacts using the Understanding Global Change Interactive. 
• Find out more about the specific impacts of climate change on your community and what actions with the Climate Explorer Story Map. What parts of your community are most at risk, and what can you do to protect them? 

Extend and Apply your Learning about Food Waste Prevention 

For all ages:

• Conduct a food waste audit at school to find out ways you prevent food waste in the lunchroom. 
• Learn how you can start composting organic waste from your lunchroom or at home using the School Resources section on EGLE's Compost website. 
• Practice packing a waste-free lunch! 

 

Extend and Apply your Learning about Managing Storm Water Runoff 

 

For all ages:

 

Learn more about how to reduce pollution in runoff. Watch EGLE's Nonpoint Source Pollution PSA Playlist on YouTube. These short videos are created by kids, for kids!