Sarah Ott, a woman from the US, used to believe that climate change was a hoax. She was influenced by her friends at church and a right-wing radio host. However, she has since changed her mind and become an advocate for clean energy and teaching the science of climate change to teenage students. Sarah’s journey was not easy, as she had to leave behind her community and face criticism. But she realized that the truth mattered and she wanted to make a difference.
Sarah’s background as the granddaughter of coal miners and her connection to science through her parents shaped her love for nature and the environment. However, when she first encountered the term “climate change” as a young girl, she didn’t think it would affect her personally. She studied zoology at university and became a science teacher, but her beliefs were influenced by conservative radio shows that claimed climate change was a hoax.
One turning point for Sarah was when she tuned into a non-profit broadcaster that presented the issue of climate change in a different and reasonable way. She started consuming other media and realized how much her social network had changed. She disagreed with the views of her church group and decided to leave them after the 2016 US presidential elections. She went back to teaching and made new friends who shared her beliefs.
Sarah now volunteers with non-partisan groups that advocate for climate solutions and teaches climate change to her teenage students. She admits that admitting she was wrong was difficult, but she believes in setting an example and being understanding towards others who may be going through a similar journey. She emphasizes the importance of connecting with people through shared values and providing a supportive environment for them to change their beliefs.
Recent research shows that there is a growing partisan divide in the US when it comes to climate change, but there is evidence that people are changing their minds. Sarah’s story is a testament to the power of education and open-mindedness in addressing climate change skepticism.
Original news source: I thought climate change was a hoax. Now I’ve changed my mind’ (BBC)
Listen
Slow
Normal
Fast
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Discussion Circle
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and give each group a set of discussion questions related to the article. Have the groups take turns discussing the questions and sharing their opinions and insights with the class.
– News Summary
Instructions: Ask students to individually summarize the main points of the article in one paragraph. Then, have them pair up and compare their summaries, discussing any differences or similarities. Finally, have a few students share their summaries with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to climate change and ask students to rate their level of agreement or disagreement with each statement on a scale of 1 to 5. After collecting the data, facilitate a class discussion based on the results, allowing students to share their opinions and reasoning.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups: one representing the pros of addressing climate change and the other representing the cons. Give each group time to brainstorm arguments and counterarguments. Then, have a debate where each group presents their points and counters the opposing group’s arguments.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask students to imagine what the world will be like in 50 years if climate change is not addressed versus if it is successfully addressed. Have them write short paragraphs or create visual representations of their predictions. Then, have a gallery walk where students can view and discuss each other’s predictions.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What initially influenced Sarah Ott’s belief that climate change was a hoax?
2. How did Sarah’s background and upbringing shape her love for nature and the environment?
3. What was one turning point for Sarah in changing her beliefs about climate change?
4. How did Sarah’s social network change after the 2016 US presidential elections?
5. What does Sarah now do to advocate for climate solutions?
6. Why does Sarah believe it is important to be understanding towards others who may be going through a similar journey?
7. What does recent research show about the partisan divide in the US when it comes to climate change?
8. What does Sarah’s story demonstrate about the power of education and open-mindedness in addressing climate change skepticism?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Sarah Ott, a woman from the US, used to believe that climate change was a hoax. She was influenced by her friends at church and a right-wing radio host. However, she has since changed her mind and become an (1)______ for (2)______ energy and teaching the science of climate change to teenage students. Sarah’s journey was not easy, as she had to leave behind her community and face criticism. But she (3)______ that the truth (4)______ and she wanted to make a difference.
Sarah’s background as the granddaughter of coal miners and her connection to (5)______ through her parents shaped her love for (6)______ and the environment. However, when she first encountered the term “climate change” as a young girl, she didn’t think it would affect her personally. She studied (7)______ at university and became a science teacher, but her beliefs were influenced by conservative (8)______ shows that claimed climate change was a hoax.
One turning point for Sarah was when she tuned into a non-profit broadcaster that presented the issue of climate change in a different and reasonable way. She (9)______ consuming other media and realized how much her social network had changed. She disagreed with the views of her church (10)______ and decided to leave them after the 2016 US (11)______ elections. She went back to teaching and made new friends who shared her beliefs.
Sarah now volunteers with non-partisan groups that advocate for climate solutions and (12)______ climate change to her teenage students. She admits that admitting she was wrong was difficult, but she believes in setting an example and being understanding towards others who may be (13)______ through a similar journey. She emphasizes the importance of connecting with people through shared (14)______ and providing a supportive environment for them to change their beliefs.
(15)______ research shows that there is a growing partisan divide in the US when it comes to climate change, but there is evidence that people are changing their minds. Sarah’s story is a testament to the power of education and open-mindedness in addressing climate change (16)______.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is your opinion on climate change? Do you believe it is a real issue?
2. How would you feel if you discovered that something you strongly believed in turned out to be false?
3. Do you think it is important for educators to teach about climate change? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever had to change your beliefs or opinions? How did it impact you?
5. What do you think is the best way to convince someone who is skeptical about climate change?
6. How do you think Sarah’s background as the granddaughter of coal miners influenced her beliefs?
7. Do you think it is difficult to go against the beliefs of your community? Why or why not?
8. What role do you think the media plays in shaping our beliefs and opinions?
9. How would you feel if your friends or family disagreed with your beliefs about climate change?
10. Do you think it is important for people to admit when they are wrong? Why or why not?
11. What do you think are the most effective ways to educate people about climate change?
12. How do you think Sarah’s experience as a science teacher influenced her change of beliefs?
13. What do you think is the biggest challenge in addressing climate change skepticism?
14. Have you ever been influenced by the beliefs of others? How did it affect your own opinions?
15. Do you think it is possible to change someone’s beliefs about climate change? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. climate change
2. hoax
3. advocate
4. community
5. science
6. beliefs
7. journey
8. education
Meanings:
(a) Someone who supports and promotes a cause
(b) Something that is not true or a deception
(c) Personal opinions or convictions
(d) A process of traveling from one place to another
(e) The term that refers to global warming
(f) The study of the natural world and its phenomena
(g) A group of people living in the same area
(h) The process of acquiring knowledge and skills
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What was Sarah Ott’s initial belief about climate change?
(a) She believed it was a hoax
(b) She believed it was real
(c) She was unsure about it
(d) She had never heard of it
2. What influenced Sarah’s initial belief about climate change?
(a) Her parents and her science teachers
(b) Her university studies and her zoology degree
(c) Her grandparents who were coal miners
(d) Her friends at church and a right-wing radio host
3. What was one turning point for Sarah in changing her beliefs about climate change?
(a) Attending a climate change conference
(b) Tuning into a non-profit broadcaster that presented the issue differently
(c) Reading a book about climate change
(d) Taking a trip to a polluted city
4. What did Sarah do after the 2016 US presidential elections?
(a) She started her own non-profit organization
(b) She ran for political office
(c) She stopped teaching and became a climate change activist
(d) She left her church group
5. What does Sarah now do as a volunteer?
(a) She teaches climate change to her teenage students
(b) She works with non-partisan groups advocating for climate solutions
(c) She organizes climate change protests
(d) She writes articles about climate change for a newspaper
6. What does Sarah emphasize in her approach to changing beliefs about climate change?
(a) Confronting people who disagree with her
(b) Ignoring people who have different beliefs
(c) Connecting with people through shared values
(d) Making fun of people who are skeptical about climate change
7. What does recent research show about the partisan divide in the US regarding climate change?
(a) It is growing
(b) It is shrinking
(c) It is staying the same
(d) There is no partisan divide
8. What does Sarah’s story demonstrate about addressing climate change skepticism?
(a) The importance of ignoring skeptics
(b) The need for stricter government regulations
(c) The power of education and open-mindedness
(d) The ineffectiveness of advocacy groups
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. Sarah has since changed her mind and become an advocate for clean energy and teaching the science of climate change to teenage students.
2. Sarah Ott used to believe that climate change was real.
3. Sarah tuned into a for-profit broadcaster that presented the issue of climate change in the same and unreasonable way, which was a turning point for her.
4. Sarah first encountered the term “climate change” as a young girl but didn’t think it would affect her personally.
5. Sarah now volunteers with partisan groups that deny climate change and refuses to teach climate change to her teenage students.
6. Sarah’s background as the granddaughter of coal miners and her connection to science through her parents shaped her love for nature and the environment.
7. Sarah had to leave behind her community and face criticism in order to follow her new beliefs.
8. Sarah was influenced by her friends at church and a left-wing radio host.
Go to answers ⇩
Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. What influenced Sarah Ott to initially believe that climate change was a hoax?
2. How did Sarah’s background and upbringing shape her love for nature and the environment?
3. What was one turning point that caused Sarah to change her beliefs about climate change?
4. How did Sarah’s social network change after she started consuming different media?
5. What does Sarah now do to advocate for climate solutions and educate others about climate change?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. Sarah Ott’s belief that climate change was a hoax was initially influenced by her friends at church and a right-wing radio host.
Answer: Her friends at church and a right-wing radio host.
2. Sarah’s background as the granddaughter of coal miners and her connection to science through her parents shaped her love for nature and the environment.
Answer: Her background as the granddaughter of coal miners and her connection to science through her parents.
3. One turning point for Sarah in changing her beliefs about climate change was when she tuned into a non-profit broadcaster that presented the issue in a different and reasonable way.
Answer: When she tuned into a non-profit broadcaster that presented the issue in a different and reasonable way.
4. After the 2016 US presidential elections, Sarah’s social network changed as she disagreed with the views of her church group and decided to leave them.
Answer: She disagreed with the views of her church group and decided to leave them.
5. Sarah now volunteers with non-partisan groups that advocate for climate solutions and teaches climate change to her teenage students.
Answer: She volunteers with non-partisan groups that advocate for climate solutions and teaches climate change to her teenage students.
6. Sarah believes it is important to be understanding towards others who may be going through a similar journey because she wants to set an example and provide a supportive environment for them to change their beliefs.
Answer: She wants to set an example and provide a supportive environment for them to change their beliefs.
7. Recent research shows that there is a growing partisan divide in the US when it comes to climate change.
Answer: Recent research shows that there is a growing partisan divide in the US when it comes to climate change.
8. Sarah’s story demonstrates the power of education and open-mindedness in addressing climate change skepticism.
Answer: Sarah’s story demonstrates the power of education and open-mindedness in addressing climate change skepticism.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) advocate
(2) clean
(3) realized
(4) mattered
(5) science
(6) nature
(7) zoology
(8) radio
(9) started
(10) group
(11) presidential
(12) teaches
(13) going
(14) values
(15) Recent
(16) skepticism
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. climate change
Answer: (e) The term that refers to global warming
2. hoax
Answer: (b) Something that is not true or a deception
3. advocate
Answer: (a) Someone who supports and promotes a cause
4. community
Answer: (g) A group of people living in the same area
5. science
Answer: (f) The study of the natural world and its phenomena
6. beliefs
Answer: (c) Personal opinions or convictions
7. journey
Answer: (d) A process of traveling from one place to another
8. education
Answer: (h) The process of acquiring knowledge and skills
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What was Sarah Ott’s initial belief about climate change?
Answer: (a) She believed it was a hoax
2. What influenced Sarah’s initial belief about climate change?
Answer: (d) Her friends at church and a right-wing radio host
3. What was one turning point for Sarah in changing her beliefs about climate change?
Answer: (b) Tuning into a non-profit broadcaster that presented the issue differently
4. What did Sarah do after the 2016 US presidential elections?
Answer: (d) She left her church group
5. What does Sarah now do as a volunteer?
Answer: (b) She works with non-partisan groups advocating for climate solutions
6. What does Sarah emphasize in her approach to changing beliefs about climate change?
Answer: (c) Connecting with people through shared values
7. What does recent research show about the partisan divide in the US regarding climate change?
Answer: (a) It is growing
8. What does Sarah’s story demonstrate about addressing climate change skepticism?
Answer: (c) The power of education and open-mindedness
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Sarah has since changed her mind and become an advocate for clean energy and teaching the science of climate change to teenage students. (Answer: True)
2. Sarah Ott used to believe that climate change was real. (Answer: False)
3. Sarah tuned into a for-profit broadcaster that presented the issue of climate change in the same and unreasonable way, which was a turning point for her. (Answer: False)
4. Sarah first encountered the term “climate change” as a young girl but didn’t think it would affect her personally. (Answer: True)
5. Sarah now volunteers with partisan groups that deny climate change and refuses to teach climate change to her teenage students. (Answer: False)
6. Sarah’s background as the granddaughter of coal miners and her connection to science through her parents shaped her love for nature and the environment. (Answer: True)
7. Sarah had to leave behind her community and face criticism in order to follow her new beliefs. (Answer: True)
8. Sarah was influenced by her friends at church and a left-wing radio host. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧
