Our Climate - Past, Present and Future
Nov 22, 2024 | by Fred Benz
For those of you who don't recognize my name, I have been a guest teacher for the last couple of years, teaching a block on climate science to 7th and 8th graders. I am honored to have the opportunity to educate your students about a topic that I believe is fundamental to their future. My goals for the block are to help give students an appreciation for the delicate and wondrous natural balance that has historically driven the earth's climate, how mankind has impacted that balance over the course of the last 150 years, a sense of the magnitude of the problem we've created; how the nations of the world have come together to tackle the problem; and, insight into the various solutions that will allow us to overcome the challenges we face moving forward. As a technologist who spent 35 years working in product development in Silicon Valley, I am particularly excited by the 'solutions,' not only because they demonstrate how brilliant and ingenious humanity can be but also because I believe they provide a sense of hope and optimism for the students.
While the goals for the block are very similar to past years, in this year's edition of the class I want to put a greater emphasis on the 'solutions'. The first year I taught the two classes together, which made total sense as the block was new to both classes. Last year, though, I realized that for the 8th graders, the course was largely a repetition of what they learned when they were 7th graders and didn't leave enough time to explore the solutions that are available and/or are being developed. This time around, I want to avoid those pitfalls, and so, I am going to separate the 7th and 8th grade experiences. For the incoming 7th graders, I will deliver an updated version of the curriculum I've taught for the last two years, covering the full range of goals stated above. With the 8th graders, however, I will start with a quick review of what they learned as 7th graders and then shift the focus to 'solutions.' Students will be paired up, and each team will be tasked with preparing a report in one of 5 key 'solution' areas… zero-carbon electricity generation, electrification of transport, electrification of industry (steel and cement), carbon capture, and climate adaptation. I will prepare packets of reference material to get each of the teams started and will provide a standard format (consisting of 6-8 key questions each report should address) for each of the teams to follow as they research and develop their report/presentation. Then, during the last week of the block, I will bring the two classes back together, and each 8th-grade team will deliver their report, followed by a group discussion of the impacts, tradeoffs, and consequences.
Let me conclude by saying how much I look forward to getting to know the 7th graders and how excited I am to re-acquaint myself with the 8th graders. I also want to express my appreciation to the Teaching Team for the providing me the opportunity to help educate the students on such a vitally important topic. I truly believe that climate change is the greatest challenge we face as humanity and that our greatest hope lies with our children. My hope is that this block will contribute to their understanding and their sense of agency in addressing the challenge.
This Sunset was captures in Lesbos, Greece during last year's 7th Grade trip to Europe.