How do you feel about climate change?

What you'll need

• Laptop, projector and screen 
• “How do you feel about climate change” slideshow
• “True or False” handout
• Video: Powering B.C.'s potential (BC Hydro)
• Dice, plan for one die per pair of students
• Paper and pencils for each student 

1. Start the class by posing the question “What is climate change?” and asking students to define what it is and how it makes them feel when they hear climate issues in the news.

2. Students may share that climate change refers to the Earth's increasing temperatures, leading to extreme and unpredictable weather conditions. The use of fossil fuels by humans has contributed to increasing global temperatures, which have had significant impacts on both human populations and wildlife.

3. Ask students if they have experienced climate worry or concern, explaining this is a normal and valid response, but we do not want it to interfere with our daily life and functioning.

Fossil fuels or renewable energy?

4. Now pull up the “How do you feel about climate change” slideshow. At slide 2, ask students to look at this picture and silently consider how the image makes them feel. Explain this is a picture of a coal power plant generating electricity and is a contributor to climate change and poor air quality. Some students may share this makes them feel sad or uncomfortable.

5. At slides 3 to 7, invite students to look at the pictures and silently consider how these images make them feel. Some students may share they feel happier or calmer looking at an image of nature. As you move through the pictures, invite students to share if they have visited any of the sites.

a. Slide 3 is a picture of Buntzen Lake, which is a BC Hydro dam and reservoir making electricity from falling water. It is also a recreational area, enjoyed by many, with swimming, hiking, picnicking, and boating. Buntzen is the traditional territory of Kwikwetlem First Nation, Musqueam Nation, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Squamish Nation, and Stó:lō First Nations.
b. Slide 4 is Pend d'Oreille Reservoir in the Kootenays. This also doubles as a source of clean, renewable hydroelectric power and a recreation area for the public, including camping, picnicking, swimming, boating, canoeing, wildlife viewing, and fishing. People of the Kalispel First Nation were the first to live in the Pend d'Oreille Valley, thriving on the abundant flora and fauna in the area.
c. Slide 5 is Jones Lake Reservoir located east of Chilliwack. The reservoir surface is over 600 m above the Fraser River, which makes it ideal for generating clean electricity to power our lights and homes. (600 m is like a 200-storey building.) This location is also an attractive public spot for camping, swimming, boating, and fishing. Jones Lake is located on the traditional territory of the Sto:lo First Nation.
d. Slide 6 is Clayton Falls Recreation Site in Bella Coola, Northern B.C. This is the only ocean-front park in the Bella Coola area. Oceanside Park sits near the run-of-river hydroelectric facility. Clayton Falls hydroelectric run-of-river facility was built in 1962 to reduce demand for diesel fuel. Clayton Falls is a great place to explore the beach, walk, and picnic. It is located on the traditional territory of the Nuxalk Nation.
e. Slide 7 is John Hart Generating Station on the Campbell River, Vancouver Island. This river system generates clean electricity and contributes to the surrounding communities by providing services like flood control, domestic water supply, and recreation. Fun can be found along the river with camping, picnicking, swimming, hiking, fishing, kayaking, tubing, sight-seeing, and nature appreciation. John Hart is located on the traditional territories of We Wai Kai (Cape Mudge) First Nation, Wei Wai Kum (Campbell River) First Nation, K’omoks First Nation, and Homalco First Nation.

6. At slide 8, share that in B.C. we have clean, renewable electricity generated from falling water and show the video: Powering B.C.'s potential (BC Hydro) about what’s happening in B.C. as we look to the future and continue generating clean energy from many renewable resources.

7. Now ask students to reflect on how they feel looking at these images of nature and viewing the video.

8. Share with students that there is a lot of news coming at us that can cause concern for the future. The opposite of this climate anxiety is called eco-hope. Experiencing nature, learning about good news stories, and taking action to mitigate climate change helps us feel more positive about the future.

True or false

9. Share with students they will be playing a true or false game to share highlights of what BC Hydro is doing to combat climate change and contribute to eco-hope and eco-action. The full instructions and statements for this game are provided in the downloadable “True and False” handout.

10. Put students in pairs facing each other. Print one copy of the “True and False” handout for yourself to read the statements aloud during the activity.

11. Students will follow the game using the statements you read from the handout. All rules and statements are included in the handout.

12. Conclude the game by inviting students to add up their scores.