STEPP

Lesson Plan Form

Teacher:

Mrs. Elizabeth Loyd and Mr. Cory Sicard

School:

Preston Middle School Grade Level: 8th Grade

Title: Climate Change

Date: 4/4/16

Content Area: Science

Lesson #:_5 of 6_

Content Standard(s) addressed by this lesson:

Understandings:
Students will investigate the various beliefs and misconceptions of climate change. Students will
construct their own argument based around some aspect of climate change and use it in a debate with
fellow classmates. Students will discuss the difference between climate change, weather, Ozone layer
depletion, and greenhouse effect.
Inquiry Questions:
1. What do greenhouse effect and the ozone layer hole have in common?
2. Why is climate change so hotly debated right now?
3. What are some of the likely causes of climate change and how will it affect future weather
patterns?
Evidence Outcomes:
1. I will design my own argument about a topic on climate change and use it to participate in a
scientific and professional debate.
2. I can analyze the different components of climate change and make inferences on future
weather patterns in Colorado, the US, and the globe.
List of Assessments:

Brain Buster, Table Talk, Board Quick Write (EO #1)

Argument sheet (EO #1)

Colorado State University College of Applied Human Sciences

Page 1

STEPP Lesson Plan Form

Planned Lesson Activities

Name and Purpose of Lesson
Approx. Time and Materials

Anticipatory Set

Climate Change: Can we do something about it?

Brain Buster, Table Talk, and Board Quick Write/Class (5
minutes)
Greenhouse effect discussion (5 minutes)
Bill Nye Video (5 minutes)
Climate change discussion and ppt (10 minutes)
Argument formation (25 minutes)
Debate (30 minutes)

Greenhouse Effect and the Bill Nye Video

Procedures

Closure

Differentiation

Assessment

1) Students enter, grab notebooks, and do brain buster

(What do greenhouse effect and the ozone layer have
to do with each other?)
2) Students table talk with each other on the brain buster
3) We will discuss as a class about greenhouse effect
4) Students will watch a quick video from Bill Nye about
climate change
5) We will have a quick ppt and discussion about climate
change- truth, misconceptions, controversy
6) Students will use their computers and any other
resources available to choose a topic and formulate an
argument for the debate.
7) Students will turn in their argument via email
8) Debate
9) End comments

End comments about the debate, future of the planet be
informed talk
Students will have the option to make any argument they so
choose as long as it deals directly with climate change.
Students will turn in their argument sheet via email. Students
will be informally assessed during the debate based on
responses, and professionalism

Colorado State University College of Applied Human Sciences

Page 2

STEPP Lesson Plan Form

Climate Change Debate Argument Form

Topic:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________.

Argument: __________________________________________

Evidence For:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Evidence Against:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Contradictions:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Colorado State University College of Applied Human Sciences

Page 3