ABOUT K-12 RESOURCES – CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate impacts are seen globally, and locally. In this region, we’ve been taking action for many years, but we need to do more. As residents, we can better understand local impacts, and support effective, local climate action. Metro Vancouver has a set a goal for our region to be carbon-neutral by 2050, with interim emissions targets for 2030. We’re taking action now.

The Climate 2050 Strategic Framework provides guidance to effectively reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and prepare our communities for change, transitioning our region to a low carbon future. Metro Vancouver tracks GHG emissions from a range of sources, including our vehicles, buildings we live and study in, and industry.

Climate Change – OVERVIEW

The Metro Vancouver 2050 video, the Impacts of Climate Change Backgrounder, and the Climate Literacy Learning Modules provide an overview of climate change in Metro Vancouver, how it’s impacting ecosystems and communities in our region, and what we’re doing to address the impacts.

The Climate Literacy in Metro Vancouver provides a series of self-directed learning modules to support learning about climate change.

K-12 Curriculum Connections – Climate Change

Climate change can be explored through the big ideas and core content at various grades in the B.C. K-12 curriculum, from simpler explorations at the Elementary level to more complex inquiries during the Secondary years. Through teacher-developed K-12 resources and learning opportunities, Metro Vancouver supports teachers and students to engage in curriculum-connected, place-based inquiry and learning about climate change in our region.

Download K-12 Curriculum Map – Climate Change

INQUIRY SPARK ACTIVITIES

Our Backyard GHGs: What Emission Sources in our Region Contribute to Climate Change?

What is climate change and why is it happening? How do human activities that emit greenhouse gases (GHGs) in our region contribute to climate change? What does it mean to be carbon neutral? How can each of us help? This activity explores the major sources of GHG emissions in Metro Vancouver and encourages students to think and talk about climate–friendly choices.

Download Inquiry Spark 1   
Do this activity online!

Picture This! Exploring the Impacts of Climate Change in Metro Vancouver

The impacts of climate change are already evident in our region, and will continue to affect our communities and ecosystems in the years ahead. This activity aims to provoke student thinking and questions about the impacts and implications of climate change in our region through the use of compelling images and climate projections found in the Metro Vancouver Climate 2050 Framework.

Download Inquiry Spark 2   

Climate Change and Healthy Local Ecosystems: What’s the Relationship?

How does the health of ecosystems in our region impact climate change? How does climate change impact the health of local ecosystems? This activity explores the important relationships between the health of ecosystems and climate change to help us better understand why and how we might care for nature.

Download Inquiry Spark 3   

• ACTIVITY IDEAS

  These brief activity ideas can be adapted into more fulsome activities to guide learner inquiry.

  Nature's Thermometer

  Core Question: What evidence tells us that climate change is happening?
  

  Overview: How do we know climate change is happening on Earth? Brainstorm and make a web or list of evidence that tells us climate change is happening globally, regionally and locally. One line of evidence is that glaciers around the world are shrinking. Watch the video Coquitlam Glacier Ten Years Later that explores the last surviving glacier in the Metro Vancouver region. How are changes in glaciers related to climate? What impact can these changes have on our region? What other evidence exists of climate change happening in our region?

  Explore the Climate Change Around the Globe web pages and resources on the Climate 2050 website . What is the IPCC and what are they doing about climate change? What other evidence exists that climate change is happening globally? Choose one of the graphs found on the website and compose a paragraph summarizing the data. How is this evidence connected to changes in our region? Add illustrations to your summary. Share your summary with a partner or small group.

  Our Connections to Climate

  Core Question: How is climate change connected to everything we do?

  Overview:

  Review the Climate Change and You images of products, services and activities we make choices about daily. Randomly, select one photo and choose a product found in the image. Think about what it’s made of, how it was made, how it was moved, and what happens after its use, and identify as many climate change connections as possible. Make a web or map of these connections. How might you explain the connections between our daily choices and climate change to younger students? How could you link these climate change connections to our daily water, waste and air quality choices? Share your ideas and the image you explored with others using a platform of your choosing.

  Climate 2050: What issues do you care about?

  Core Question: What are we doing about climate change in Metro Vancouver?

  Overview: What do you think is the most important priority when it comes to climate change and our collective future? Discuss with a partner or small group and make a list of issues that related to climate change you think are important. Explore the Climate 2050 website to learn more about our efforts to plan for the future. What are the ten Regional Priorities? Why are they important? Compare your list of issues with the Regional Priorities. Are there other priorities you thought of that are not identified? Choose one of the Regional Priorities and conduct further research. Consider the following questions to guide your inquiry:

  1. How is climate change impacting this priority area?
  2. What are the implications of these changes on the natural and built environment?
  3. How do these changes impact people?
  4. What climate actions are connected with these priorities?
  5. Who is responsible for leading these climate actions?
  6. What can you do to help?