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Game: Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Role-Play Exercise -- CLEAN

GAME: Game: Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Role-Play Exercise -- CLEAN

SUMMARY

Selected for the CLEAN Collection. The activity description was developed by CLEAN reviewers

In this role-play activity, students take the roles of various important players in the climate change policy debate including politicians, scientists, environmentalists, and industry representatives. Working in these roles, students must take a position, debate with others, and then vote on legislation designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Can be used in a variety of courses including writing and rhetoric, and social sciences.

GOALS

Learning Goals

Content:

Climate change science and climate change policy-making

Goals:

  1. For students to explore the complexity and subtle aspects of the issue of climate change and eliminate black-and-white thinking about this issue.
  2. For students to develop skills of taking initiative, communication, problem-solving, and working collaboratively.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION AND TEACHING MATERIALS

Explore >> Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Role-Play Exercise


TEACHING NOTES / CONTEXT FOR USE

Teaching Tips by CLEAN Reviewers

  • Activity should be done at the end of a unit on climate change, after students have learned some of the science behind the issue.
  • See tips provided by the developer in the activity sheet.
  • It might be interesting to collaborate with a politics/government studies class when doing this activity, with each group being a mixture of students from both classes.
  • The convention can be made more realistic with a simple PowerPoint described in activity sheet.
  • Link for Stern Report referred to in activity is: http://www.ff.org/centers/csspp/pdf/20061104_stern.pdf

About the Science

  • Uses Copenhagen Diagnosis 2009 to engage students in role-play discussion of climate change.
  • Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.

About the Pedagogy

  • Students explore roles that may challenge their personal feelings or beliefs; helps bring into focus the complexity of global energy issues and politics.
  • A rubric and teaching notes are included for the instructor.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

  • The assignment handout is well-written and clear, and includes assessment information.
  • To run a "good convention" a lot of preparation is required of the instructor.

ASSESSMENT

Assessment recommendation from the lead author, K.M. Theissen, University of St. Thomas, Pedagogy in Action Collection from SERC:

A rubric used to grade student work on this exercise is included in the assignment handout. If time permits, ask the students for feedback on the exercise.

REFERENCES AND RESOURCES

SHORT DESCRIPTION

Description by the lead author, K.M. Theissen, University of St. Thomas, Pedagogy in Action Collection from SERC: When the science is so clear, why is it so difficult to make agreements that will reduce our impact on climate change? This exercise is designed to help students explore that important question in an active and engaging way. Students are cast into the roles of various important players in the climate change issue, including politicians, scientists, environmentalists, and industry representatives. Working in these roles, students must take a position, debate with others, and then vote on legislation designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.

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