Lesson Plan July 26, 2018
Introducing the Story of 'Losing Earth'
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Introducing "Losing Earth"
The years from 1979 to 1989 were critical for climate action. At the start of this decade, scientific consensus about global warming was beginning to emerge. By the middle of the decade, the scientific community understood with unprecedented clarity that human activity was contributing to a rapid derangement of the natural world, one that would threaten economic and societal collapse if left unchecked. But efforts to marshal the political will and industry support to change course all failed.
In "Losing Earth: The decade we almost stopped climate change," an authoritative piece that takes up an entire edition of The New York Times Magazine, Nathaniel Rich reveals how the current narratives and arguments around climate change were formed, and why this problem has remained so difficult to solve. In this 5 minute video, Rich introduces the story and reflects on its central questions.
"Losing Earth" and the accompanying curricular materials will enable teachers and students to have bold conversations about climate change, the media's role in shaping discourse about the issue, and the political willpower needed to enact critical environmental policy.
Study Guide:
1. Full Text Summary
2. Cast of Characters
3. Glossary of Terms
4. Comprehension and Discussion Questions
The activities listed above are designed to build on students' exploration of The New York Time Magazine's "Losing Earth," which was written by Nathaniel Rich and includes photography from George Steinmetz. For support facilitating the exercises above, or with connecting a journalist to your classroom, email [email protected] to connect with a member of our staff.
You can find more related educational resources at www.pulitzercenter.org/nytclimate.