5th Grade
  • Lesson
  • 60 minutes

Honolulu's Eco-Challenge: Climate Action Adventure

Kaile Berlenbach

Purpose

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce 5th-grade students to the impacts of climate change on Honolulu's unique ecosystems and communities. Through an interactive approach, students will begin to explore the essential question: "How does climate change impact the unique ecosystems and communities of Honolulu, and what actions can we take to make a difference?" They will engage in activities that integrate science, math, language arts, and social studies, fostering skills in data analysis, critical thinking, and effective communication. By collaborating with community partners like the University of Hawaii's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), students will gain access to expert knowledge and research resources. The lesson aims to inspire students to become informed change-makers who understand the local implications of climate change and feel empowered to take meaningful action within their community.

Learning goals

In this lesson, students will explore the impacts of climate change on the unique ecosystems and communities of Honolulu. They will focus on understanding the interactions between Earth's systems and how climate change affects these systems locally. Students will learn to gather and analyze real climate data, create line plots and graphs, and develop models to illustrate system interactions. They will also practice writing informative texts to explain climate data trends and predictions. By engaging with resources from the University of Hawaii's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, students will gain expert insights into local climate impacts. Through reflection activities, students will document their learning journey and consider their role in addressing climate change. The lesson aims to develop students' critical thinking, data analysis, and communication skills, empowering them to become proactive change-makers in their community.
Standards
  • NGSS - 5-ESS3-1: Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect Earth’s resources and environment.
  • Common Core - CCSS.Math.Content.5.MD.B.2: Make a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions of a unit and use operations to solve problems involving information presented in line plots.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.