Begin with a brief presentation highlighting the global consequences of climate change.
Pose the question: "Who is on the front line of climate change?" and guide them to the answer: Coastal and island communities, like Cayman.
Divide class into 3 groups (or 6 if needed for class size)
Sea Level Rise:Distribute contour maps of Cayman to small groups of students. Provide them with coloured pencils or markers. Instruct them to color the map based on elevation. Discuss the implications of rising sea levels on these areas.
Provide a “Fact Sheet about Sea Level Rise” - Include information about causes (water temp and land ice melt) as well as current levels of rise and projections.
Group Creates “Areas at Risk of Sea Level Rise” map of Cayman.
Map should highlight areas of risk and provide relevant facts from the Fact Sheet.
Highlight populated areas that are also at risk.
Extreme Weather Patterns:Hand out hurricane maps showing the routes of hurricanes from West Africa to the Caribbean over the past few decades. Ask students to identify patterns.
Provide a “Fact Sheet on Hurricanes and Climate Change” - this should highlight the effects of warmer ocean water and climate change on hurricanes.
Group to create warning poster about climate change and hurricanes.
Poster should show where hurricanes are created.
Poster should show routes of hurricanes in the last 20 years.
Poster should show that higher sea temperatures will cause more severe hurricanes.
Ecosystem Disruption: Using a map of Cayman's ecosystems, students should place information boxes (provided) next to each ecosystem. These boxes will detail how climate change affects each ecosystem. Students should discuss potential adaptations or changes within these ecosystems due to climate change.
Provide info boxes about each major habitat in Cayman.
Group to create map of at-risk areas in Cayman.
Map should show extent of habitats.
Map should have information about habitats.
Students add their own ideas about the importance of each habitat to Cayman.
Conclude with either group presentations or student gallery walk, followed by a brief class discussion about what they have learned and how these things matter to Cayman.
