Climate Change and Regional Geography

Hey Friends. Here is my review.

In this article, Talia Epstein reveals just how a teacher can incorporate a much larger and deeper issue like climate change, into a regular geography unit. Epstein divides her article into the following sections.

1) Format of the Unit: Suggesting a 3 or 4 week period be spent on a variety of listed example topics.

2) Resources: How out-dated textbooks can be useful and other example sources.

3) Background Knowledge: What students might already know and further examples to create awareness for your entire class.

4) Unit Outline: An in-depth look at what the unit will include (topic examples), as well as possible assignments, projects, and activities.

5) Assessment: Different ways teachers can assess their students during the unit.

6) Taking Action: Further opportunities for students to make a difference.

The ideas about climate change and the strategies used in the article can easily be adapted to suit the needs of any grade or school setting. In particular, the ‘Unit Outline’ and ‘Assessment’ sections are very practical as both provide necessary details, useful examples and precise evidence that teachers could draw from. Overall this article represents what we as future educators need to be about. It is up to us to find important information, make it relevant to school curriculum and most importantly deliver it to our students in a way that will captivate their minds. We need to engage our students in academic ways and inspire them to think critically and creatively.

Epstein, Talia. (2008). Climate Change and Regional Geography. Green Teacher, Vol. 83 (1), 24-28.