Investigate how countries balance self-interest and international cooperation by analyzing real responses to global climate change, including policies, agreements, and conflicts. Use source analysis and collaborative discussion to build a policy brief or poster that explains how a nation’s foreign policy choices reflect its priorities and relationships with others. You will also examine multiple cultural and historical perspectives through performance or presentation choices that question global belief systems. The experience ends with a gallery walk where you review others’ work, leave one comment on strategy or evidence, and write one sentence about how your thinking about national interests and cooperation has developed.

You will compare how countries respond to global climate change by analyzing treaties, policy briefs, speeches, and data to identify national interests, points of conflict, and areas of cooperation. You will use discussion and debate to build and defend a clear claim about how countries make foreign policy choices, while responding to classmates’ ideas with evidence and reasoning. You will create a policy brief, poster, or short dramatic presentation that shows multiple cultural and political perspectives on a global issue and questions how belief systems shape international decisions. You will strengthen your thinking through a gallery walk by giving feedback on others’ strategies and evidence and reflecting on how your understanding of national interests and cooperation has changed.

Create an evidence-based policy brief or visual poster that explains how one country responds to global climate change, what national interests shape its foreign policy choices, and how it balances cooperation with conflict in international agreements. Throughout the project, build a source analysis portfolio with annotated treaties, speeches, emissions data, and news excerpts, plus a discussion prep sheet that helps you contribute clearly and persuasively to collaborative conversations. Add a short drama or role-play scene that presents multiple cultural, historical, and political perspectives on a climate negotiation. End by displaying your final brief or poster in a gallery walk where you review others’ work, leave one comment on the strongest strategy or evidence, and write one sentence about how your thinking on national interests and cooperation has developed.

Open with a fast-paced climate summit simulation where you each represent a different country facing rising temperatures, economic pressures, and public opinion, and must decide whether to join a global agreement or protect national interests first. Use short country role cards and a few real data points on emissions, energy use, and climate vulnerability so you can compare policy choices, conflicts, and cooperation through source analysis right away. After the negotiation, discuss the essential question by explaining which choice your country made and why, then begin planning a policy brief or poster that you will later share in a gallery walk. Let the launch end with a quick written prediction about how your thinking on national interests and cooperation might change before the final reflection and feedback round.

Host a gallery walk where you display your policy brief or visual poster comparing how different countries respond to global climate change through policies, agreements, and conflicts. During the exhibition, explain how your work answers the question of how countries protect their interests while still cooperating with others, and use evidence from your source analysis to support your claims. Include a short dramatic element, such as a live policy pitch or in-role diplomat statement, to highlight multiple cultural and political perspectives on the issue. As you view others’ work, leave one comment on the strongest strategy or evidence you notice and write one sentence about how your thinking on national interests and cooperation has changed.