Lesson 2 "The Human Element" Curriculum
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The Human Element Lesson & Activities
Lesson 2: Earth
Objectives
After this lesson, students will be able to:
  • Identify how coal helped shaped nations like the United States and China and how coal is impacting the climate. 
  •  Discuss alternative sources of energy, how these may impact the economy and they will consider the role of human behavior in relation to climate change.
Overview/Purpose: 
Students will be able to understand the general history of coal in the U.S. economy as well as be able to identify the effects of coal on the climate, and possible alternative energy sources.
Guiding Questions:
  • What role has coal played in the U.S economy?  
  • What are the effects of coal mining on the climate?  
  • What are some potential alternatives to coal as an energy source? 
  •  In what ways is change possible?

Recommended Time: 90 minutes
Materials:
Internet/Computer(s)
Copies of Part 1 Vocabulary Handout
Earth Clip Notes Template
Access to the Earth segment of The Human Element
https://vimeo.com/287350523 password THE2018
Pens/Pencils Paper for notetaking
Poster Paper (11 pieces per class)
Journal/Reflection space for individual writing

Lesson Design:
  1. Use the Part 1 Vocabulary Handout and have students define the Lesson 2 words. 
  2. Distribute the Earth Clip Notes Template - read the directions for note taking that are written on the template.
  3. Using the provided link and password, show students the Earth segment from the film The Human Element.
  4. Once the clip has ended, permit students to compare notes and have a brief class discussion to discuss findings. 
  5. Visit the following link with your students: https://thehumanelementmovie.com/earth/
  6. Next, scroll down to the section on the page titled “Coal and The Human Element” and read aloud. Ask students to think-pair-share about how this information reflects their notes and observations from the clip. After students have discussed their observations, scroll further down to the section on the page titled “Resources”.
  7. There are currently 11 resources listed in this segment. Divide your students into groups that you deem appropriate to tackle each source. 
  8. Assign each group one of the resources to explore. Perhaps assign group members a task: Observation leader, Note taker, Questioner, Artist
  9. Permit between 20 and 30 minutes to complete note taking and research on their assigned resources. 
  10. Instruct students to design an informational poster that highlights the most important elements of their resource. Perhaps this will include statistics, or questions, or a drawing about how sustainable energy sources are changing. If you instruct students to address Who What Where When Why and How about their resource, this will help to inform how they design their poster.
  11. Once their posters are completed, ask each group to present the contents to the class. 
  12. Next, students will participate in some individual reflection--they will need their journals or a piece of paper for personal reflection. This can be assigned in class and completed as homework according to your needs.
  13. Write on the board this quote from the Earth clip said by Adam: “People know that the economy is changing and they know that they have to change with it in order to benefit from it.”
  14. Ask students to respond to the quote in the following ways: 
  • What do you think Adam meant by this quote? 
  • Why do you think change can feel so scary? 
  • Write about a time when change was hard for you.
  • Based on what you learned in this lesson, how do you think the Earth and people are connected? 
  • What solutions do you believe in regarding the earth and climate change? 

Optional Extension: Visit EarthX.org and check out this lesson about Environmental Systems and Government by going to https://earthx.org/teacher-resources/. You’ll need to click on the arrow until you get to the high school grade level, then click on the circled lesson:
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