How is Whitehorse Adapting to Climate Change?

In a Nutshell:

In this lesson, students watch three short videos on how Whitehorse is adapting to climate change and then work in groups to answer a set of specific questions. After watching all three videos and completing the questions, each group will present their answers to the class.

Goal:

To help students understand the impacts of climate change and how the community of Whitehorse (and other Yukon communities) are adapting and preparing for climate change.

Curriculum links for Yukon high schools:

• Grade 10 science
• Grade 11 Science and Technology
• Sustainable Resources 11 and 12
• Earth Science 11 and Geography 12 may be fit – hydrology discussed in videos

Introduction to Lesson Plan:

This lesson is based on three short climate change videos. Each video is approximately 12 - 14 minutes in length and focuses on interviews with Yukon experts and community members as they describe how Whitehorse and other Yukon communities are adapting and preparing for the impacts of climate change.

The following provides an overview of the videos for this lesson. The videos can be accessed through the internet links provided within the lesson below:

1. Whitehorse Adapting to a Changing Climate:
   What do we mean by "adaptation" to climate change and how does it relate to the community of Whitehorse? Learn about the issues, challenges and strategies Whitehorse is facing and implementing.
2. Whitehorse Planning for Change:
   Are the systems Whitehorse has in place (roads, buildings, hydrology and fire management) ready for the impacts of climate change. Learn how we can plan ahead, and build resilience and adaptive capacity, so we are less vulnerable to the impacts.
3. Whitehorse Growing Local:
   How does growing locally build Whitehorse’s resilience as a community? Hear about local community projects that are part of Whitehorse's adaptive strategy to climate change.

Activity:

1. Introduce students to climate change and the three video topics as described in the "Introduction to lesson plan" section above.
2. Students will be watching a video and then answering specific questions pertaining to that video. Divide the class into three groups so that students can watch the videos and answer in small groups. Alternatively, watch the videos as an entire class by projecting them on the screen and then break out into small groups to answer the questions.
3. To access the videos, go to:
   
   Video #1: Whitehorse Adapting To A Changing Climate:
   http://www.taiga.net/nce/adaptation/whitehorse-video-adapting.html
   
   Video #2: Whitehorse Planning For Change:
   http://www.taiga.net/nce/adaptation/whitehorse-video-planning.html
   
   Video #3: Whitehorse Growing Local:
   http://www.taiga.net/nce/adaptation/whitehorse-video-growing.html
   
   (Note: Each video is approximately 12-14 minutes in length)
4. Hand out, or project the questions provided in the student handout with this lesson that corresponds to each video. After students watch a video, they work in groups to answer the questions. Students record their answers. Ask the students to choose a presenter and a recorder. The presenter will present the group’s answers to the class.
5. Presentation: After watching all three videos and completing the questions specific to each video, have each group present their answers to one of the three videos. The groups not presenting can contribute their answers and opinions to the discussion.

Handouts:

Click on the icon for the handout that supports this lesson – Student Handout: How is Whitehorse Adapting to Climate Change?

Evaluation:

Students can be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Oral presentation of group findings;
• Overall comprehension of issues surrounding climate change and adaptive capacity planning;
• Attention to task;
• Group cooperation.

About the Author:

Diane Simpson and GreenThink worked with Aidan Wood to produce these educational videos. Key climate change experts for the Yukon and community members doing adaptation projects in Whitehorse were interviewed to create the content of these videos. The lesson was developed by Diane Simpson, MEd, to be used in Yukon classrooms.