1. Carbon: Transformations in Matter and Energy
Environmental Literacy Project Michigan State University
Human Energy Systems Unit Activity 5.4 Strategies for Lowing Carbon Emissions
Image Credit: Craig Douglas, Michigan State University

2. Show slide 2 of the 5.4 Strategies for Lowering Carbon Emissions PPT.
You are here
Use the instructional model to show students where they are in the course of the unit.
Show slide 2 of the 5.4 Strategies for Lowering Carbon Emissions PPT.

3. How are we going to lower carbon emissions?
Introduce the lesson.
Display slide 3 of the PPT. Tell students that they will be thinking about how to lower carbon emissions.
Sam

4. Lowering Carbon Emissions
How would “walk or use your bike to go for short distances” lower carbon emissions?
Work as a class to draw a representation that shows how walking or riding a bike would reduce carbon emissions.
Draw a class representation.
Display slide 4 of the PPT. Have a class discussion about how walking or riding a bike would reduce carbon emissions. Work as a class to draw a representation of this on the board.

5. Strategy Cards
Talk with your group about how each strategy would lower carbon emissions.
Draw a group representation of how 1 of the strategies would lower carbon emissions.
Pass out the strategy cards.
Display slide 5 of the PPT. Give each student one of the 5.4 Strategy Cards. In groups of four, have students discuss how the strategies in these cards would lead to lower carbon emissions.
Give them 15 minutes to draw a representation on chart paper of how one of the strategies on their cards would reduce carbon emissions.

6. Gallery Walk
As you look at the representations, talk with your group about:
How does the strategy lower carbon emissions?
How are the strategies similar in how they lower carbon emissions?
How are the strategies different in how they lower carbon emissions?
Have a gallery walk of representations.
Display slide 6 of the PPT. Display the representations around the room. Have students walk around the room and look at each of the representations. Ask students to discuss how each representation shows how the strategy would reduce carbon emissions. Also, have students discuss how the strategies are similar and different with regards to how they lower carbon emissions. .

7. Class Discussion Which of the strategies would you be willing to use?
Which strategies would be the easiest? Hardest?
Display slide 7 of the PPT. Have a full class discussion about which of the strategies students would be willing and able to do.

8. Individual Actions Societal Actions (you just discussed lots of these)
Write suggestions here
Have a class discussion about larger scale strategies.
Show slide 8 of the PPT. Tell students that the strategy cards they just read were mainly things they could do as individuals. However, solving climate change will take cooperation from communities, governments, organizations, and countries around the planet.
Tell students to consider the list on the board and also the strategies they have on their cards and brainstorm about actions that society could take together to work for bigger change.
Give students 1-2 minutes to think to themselves.
Record their ideas on the PPT slide.
Also, ask them why is important to adopt some of these strategies and how these strategies can be implemented in their communities at a larger scale.