Environmental Alphabet

Objective:

Students will:

• build their scientific literacy by using new topic-related vocabulary in a team setting
• share their understandings with the larger class

Skills:

• interpretation
• reasoning
• using reference materials
• research

Materials:

• large pieces of paper
• pencils
• dictionary
• encyclopedia and other reference materials

Procedure

Exploration

1. Divide the students into teams and assign each team 5 or 6 letters of the alphabet.
2. Have teams write each letter clearly, one at a time, on paper. After each letter, ask students to write a concept or item that is related to climate change or to the environment. After the idea, concept or item, have students write a fact or piece of information they have learned from the news, reference materials, or the Climate Change exhibition.
   Some Examples:

• A—atmosphere. Earth's atmosphere consists primarily of oxygen (about 21%) and nitrogen (about 78%). The remaining gases include small amounts of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and other trace gases.
• F—fossil fuels. Every day we use fuels formed millions of years ago from the remains of plants and animals. Oil, coal, and natural gas are fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide is a byproduct from the burning of fossil fuels.

Wrap-Up

1. After teams have completed their letters, have them present their "Environmental Alphabet" to the class and post them on the wall.

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