LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Define “carbon footprint”; identify negative impacts of carbon emissions on our planet; evaluate ways to reduce our carbon footprint.

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 7: Demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks.

 

CASEL: Responsible decision-making; social awareness

KEY VOCAB

carbon dioxide

atmosphere

deceptive

landfills

Lesson Plan: Shrink Your Carbon Footprint

Want to reduce your impact on the environment—aka your carbon footprint—but not sure what steps to take? Follow us.

Table of Contents:

1. Preparing to Read

2. Reading and Discussing

3. Building Comprehension and Vocabulary

4. Expanding SEL Opportunities

1. Preparing to Read

Before you read the article “Shrink Your Carbon Footprint,” ask your students the following pre-reading question:

What is my carbon footprint, and how can I downsize it?

2. Reading and Discussing

  • Have your students read the article “Shrink Your Carbon Footprint" independently; read the article out loud to them; or have students partner-read the article out loud. 
  • After they’ve read the article, revisit the pre-reading question. Have their answers changed? 
  • Next, have your students answer the Close-Reading and Critical-Thinking questions, either working in small groups or independently. 


Close-Reading Questions
The following questions can be shared in printable or interactive form from the Resources tab. 

  1. What does the phrase “carbon footprint” mean?
  2. Which activities can increase your carbon footprint? List at least two activities mentioned in the article.


Critical-Thinking Questions

  1. Imagine you have a meeting with one of your local representatives to discuss your concerns about climate change. What would you want to ask or tell them?

  2. Which of the steps from the article do you think would be easiest to follow, and why?

3. Building Comprehension and Vocab

Check students’ comprehension of and engagement with the story with the following assessment tools:

  • Quiz

  • Vocab Builder

4. Expanding SEL Opportunities

Continue the learning journey with the following extension activity:

In SHRINK MY FOOTPRINT, students will reflect on the size of their own carbon footprint and then commit to reducing it using a mix of their own ideas and ideas from the article.

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