Example of Rough Draft for Media Project

When it comes to teaching climate change, educators have been looking for innovative ways to engage their students in meaningful learning experiences. One approach that has shown promise is creating a public service announcement (PSA) about climate change. A well-designed PSA lesson can help students develop essential media skills while exploring complex scientific concepts.

The climate change PSA lesson follows a sequence of activities that focus on research, evaluation, organization, and structuring of climate science information to create the PSA. This approach allows teachers to assess students' ability to synthesize and communicate important information about climate change. Alternatively, a unit on climate change can be structured around creating a PSA, which serves as a culminating project.

Creating a PSA can be a powerful vehicle for learning climate science content knowledge and media skills, regardless of prior experience. However, it may be more meaningful for students who have some background in climate science and media production skills. To make the activity more effective, teachers should consider structuring it around key concepts and skills that students need to master.

Some examples of content areas that are natural fits for a climate change PSA include exploring the causes of climate change, discussing the impacts of climate change at different levels (global, hemispheric, regional, and local), or examining the evidence for climate change. By focusing on these topics, students can develop their research, analysis, and synthesis skills while learning about climate science.

When creating a PSA, students learn and apply various media skills, such as using compelling storytelling, metaphors, and images to deliver a message. They also learn how to use twenty-first-century communication skills and how to research, analyze, and synthesize complex climate science content.

The climate change PSA lesson is suitable for students in middle school and high school. Through this activity, they can develop higher-order thinking skills, such as analyzing and evaluating information, making connections between different concepts, and developing their own perspectives on important issues. Some examples of key questions that students can address with their PSAs include:

* How can we use a PSA to motivate people to change?

* What actions and policies can be taken to adapt or mitigate for climate change?

* How do scientists 'know what they know' about climate change?

* What is the evidence for climate change?

* What are the impacts (current and predicted) of climate change at global, hemispheric, regional, and local levels?

* What causes climate change? Are humans responsible?

By addressing these questions, students can develop a deeper understanding of climate science and its importance in shaping their future. The PSA lesson assignment allows students to choose from a wide range of climate change topics and questions, giving them the opportunity to explore areas that interest them most.

Overall, creating a PSA about climate change is an engaging and effective way for students to learn important scientific concepts and media skills while developing critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Example of rough draft for media project