Launch
🌍 Climate Summit Role Cards
ESS.3.D
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.11-12.1
TH:Cn10.HS3.a
TH:Cn11.1.HS3.a
TH:Cn11.1.HS1.a
Assessment
Reflection
Core Content
Essential Question
Submission Required
Step into a rapid negotiation using country role cards, emissions and energy data slips, climate vulnerability indicators, and a short agreement decision prompt. You will speak in role, decide whether your country prioritizes joining a shared climate agreement or protecting short-term national interests, and justify that choice with at least one quantitative data point and one contextual factor. Close by recording a quick written prediction in your Climate Policy Investigation Notebook about how your thinking on cooperation and self-interest may change as you investigate more evidence.
Plan day
Day 1
Duration
90 min
Grouping
Whole Class
Steps
8 steps
Lesson plan
8 steps · 90 min| # | What teachers do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Launch the climate summit by posting the essential question, introducing the decision prompt, and framing the goal: decide how a country protects its interests while still considering international cooperation on climate change. (8 min) |
| 2 | Distribute country role cards, emissions and energy data slips, climate vulnerability indicators, and notebook pages; give time to read materials, underline one national interest, identify one quantitative data point, and note one contextual factor that could shape the country’s climate position. (12 min) |
| 3 | Have you prepare a brief in-role opening statement with a partner or triad representing the same or similar national perspective: state your country’s likely position, explain whether you lean toward joining a shared agreement or protecting short-term national interests, and rehearse how you will justify that choice. (10 min) |
| 4 | Run round one of the summit: invite each country or delegation to give a concise opening statement in role while others listen and take notes on allies, tensions, and possible tradeoffs. (15 min) |
| 5 | Move into negotiation round two: have you meet with other countries to build proposals, respond to competing interests, and revise your stance by building on others’ ideas and citing at least one data point during discussion. (18 min) |
| 6 | Ask each country or delegation to make a final public decision: join the shared climate agreement, join with conditions, or decline in order to protect short-term interests; require a spoken justification using one quantitative data point and one contextual factor. (10 min) |
| 7 | Have you create a quick policy brief or mini-poster that captures your country’s final decision, strongest evidence, and reasoning so it can be reviewed during the gallery walk assessment. (7 min) |
| 8 | Facilitate a gallery walk where you review classmates’ policy briefs or posters, leave one comment identifying the strongest strategy or evidence, and write one sentence about how your thinking about national interests and cooperation has changed. (10 min) |
Preparation (10 items)
- Create or print a class set of country role cards with concise background on national interests, economic priorities, energy profile, and historic or political context.
- Prepare one data packet per country or delegation that includes emissions data, energy mix information, and at least one climate vulnerability indicator that students can cite quantitatively.
- Write and post the essential question and the summit decision prompt in a visible place for the full activity.
- Prepare a simple speaking-and-listening note catcher or notebook prompt that asks for one quantitative data point, one contextual factor, one likely ally, and one likely conflict.
- Set up the room for rapid movement between whole-group statements, small-group negotiations, and a final gallery walk.
- Prepare chart paper or half-sheet poster templates for the final policy brief or mini-poster with labeled spaces for country name, decision, evidence, contextual factor, and justification.
- Provide pens, markers, sticky notes, and tape so feedback during the gallery walk can happen quickly.
- Pre-select a mix of countries with different emissions levels, economic situations, and climate vulnerabilities so multiple perspectives are present in the summit.
- Plan brief modeling for how to cite a data point aloud and how to stay in role while disagreeing respectfully.
- Prepare sentence stems for discussion and negotiation such as 'Our country can support this if…' and 'A key concern for us is…' to support participation.
Student-facing instructions
You will take part in a rapid climate summit simulation. First, you will receive a country role card, emissions and energy data slips, climate vulnerability indicators, and your Climate Policy Investigation Notebook. Your task is to study your country’s situation, identify one national interest, choose at least one quantitative data point, and note one contextual factor such as history, energy dependence, economic priorities, or climate risk. Then you will prepare a short in-role opening statement. During the summit, you will speak as your assigned country, listen closely to other countries, and respond to their ideas as you decide whether your country should join a shared climate agreement, join only with conditions, or protect short-term national interests instead. You must justify your choice aloud using at least one quantitative data point and one contextual factor. After negotiations, you will create a brief policy poster or policy brief showing your final decision and evidence. You will end with a gallery walk where you review others’ work, leave one comment on the strongest strategy or evidence, and write one sentence in your notebook explaining how your thinking about national interests and cooperation has developed.