Earth Day is a time to reflect on how we impact the planet and consider ways to create a more sustainable future. Greta Thunberg, the Swedish environmental activist who founded Fridays for Future (also called School Strike for Climate), has played a crucial role in raising awareness about global warming. In August 2018, she began her small campaign by missing school to sit outside the Swedish parliament with a sign that read “School Strike for Climate” in Swedish. Her movement quickly spread worldwide, inspiring millions of young people in over 163 countries to organize their own strikes. A year later, she received her first of three Nobel Peace Prize nominations for climate activism.

In this lesson plan, middle and high school students will learn about Greta Thunberg and her impact on the environmental movement and analyze her speeches and activism. The following activities align with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the role of Greta Thunberg in raising awareness about climate change.

2. Analyze and evaluate Greta Thunberg’s speeches and activism.

3. Develop strategies for taking action on climate change.

Materials:

• Access to the internet and Britannica’s biography on Greta Thunberg
• Video of Greta Thunberg’s speeches, such as her TED talk or United Nations Climate Action Summit speech
• Chart paper and markers

Activity 1: Greta Thunberg Biography Analysis

NGSS Standard: HS-ESS3-4

Begin by having students read Britannica’s biography of Greta Thunberg. Ask students to take notes on the following questions:

• What motivated Greta Thunberg to start striking for climate change?
• What were some of the challenges she faced, and how did she overcome them?
• What impact has she had on the environmental movement?

After students have finished reading and taking notes, have them work in small groups to create a summary of Greta Thunberg’s life and activism. Each group should present its summary to the class.

Assessment Activity 1:

Hand out the following worksheet and have students complete it individually:

Name: ____________________________

1. What motivated Greta Thunberg to start striking for climate change?

2. What were some of the challenges she faced, and how did she overcome them?

3. What impact has she had on the environmental movement?

4. How has Greta Thunberg inspired you to take action on climate change?

Activity 2: Speech Analysis

CCSS Standard: ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1

Show students a video of Greta Thunberg’s speeches, such as her TED talk or United Nations Climate Action Summit speech. Have students take notes on the following questions:

• What is the main message of the speech?
• What rhetorical devices does Thunberg use to convey her message?
• How does Thunberg use personal anecdotes to make her message more impactful?

After students have finished watching the video and taking notes, have them work in small groups to analyze and evaluate Thunberg’s speeches. Each group should present their analysis to the class.

Assessment Activity 2:

Hand out the following worksheet and have students complete it individually:

Name: ____________________________

1. What is the main message of Greta Thunberg’s speech?

2. What rhetorical devices does Thunberg use to convey her message?

3. How does Thunberg use personal anecdotes to make her message more impactful?

4. How effective do you think Thunberg’s speeches are in raising awareness about climate change? Why?

Activity 3: Action Planning

NGSS Standard: HS-ESS3-5

After analyzing Thunberg’s speeches, have students brainstorm ways they can take action on climate change in their own community. Have them work in small groups to create an action plan, including specific steps they can take to reduce their carbon footprint and raise awareness about climate change.

As a class, create a chart with all of the groups’ action plans. Have each group present their plan to the class.

Information sourced from Britannica School. Not a subscriber? Contact us to learn more.

© European Union 2019; Anders Hellberg