Let's create continuous conversations about climate change education: Spreading the Sediment of Science!

Climate Justice Crash Course

Provided by: Maine Climate Action Now

Ebooks Grades 9-12, ap-college

Synopsis

This guide from Maine Climate Action Now! introduces Maine students and teachers to the interconnected topics under the umbrella of climate justice.
Students will learn about the injustice faced by BIPOC, women, and LGBTQ+ communities and how they are disproportionately impacted by access to things like food, clean water, transportation, green spaces, and healthy environments, and how Indigenous communities are fighting to regain land access to steward Maine's biodiversity.
The guide also briefly discusses subtopics, internalized prejudice, equity policies, biodiversity, and colonialism.
The guide also includes general and Maine-specific resources for further study, journal prompts for pre- and post-reading, and activities for the classroom.

Subjects: Civics, Geography

Authors: Maine Climate Action Now, Maine Youth for Climate Justice

Region: Maine

Languages: English

Positives

This resource does an excellent job of illustrating the intersectionality of climate justice, including a multitude of interrelated aspects and demonstrating their connection.
The expanse of topics covered in this guide and the abundance of resources provided for further study give students a wide variety of opportunities for continued exploration.

Prerequisites

The glossary feature that takes readers back to their reading after clicking on the term does not always work. It may better serve students to go through the glossary terms before reading.
Some of the links to a few websites and articles are broken, but the resource contains several working links to helpful information.
There are many topics in this resource that may make students uncomfortable or may be upsetting for students with similar experience. These topics can include food security, economic justice, discrimination, and others. Teachers should support students with a safe environment as they discuss these topics.

Differentiation & Implementation

Teachers can display the Definition and Why it Matters pages around the room, having students participate in a gallery walk to see the topics related to climate justice.
Students can each select a youth organization from pages 21 and 22 to research. Students can look into the organization's mission, how to join, and projects and initiatives they have spearheaded.
After reading through the different sectors of social justice, such as LBGTQ+ rights, voting rights, gender rights, BIPOC rights, youth action, and others, students can reflect on which sector they feel most passionate about. Students can then do additional research using the linked resources or other sources and make sure to research how the sector they chose connects to other sectors within environmental justice.
If there are any organizations in the community that work in climate justice sectors, teachers can invite speakers from these groups to tell students about their initiatives and what students can do to help.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format