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Former Climate Change Skeptic Transforms into Clean Energy Advocate

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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)

πŸ“– Vocabulary:

1. climate change
2. hoax
3. advocate
4. community
5. science
6. beliefs
7. journey
8. education

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.

πŸ€” Comprehension Questions:

🎧✍️ 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 for 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 that the truth and she wanted to make a difference. Sarah's background as the granddaughter of coal miners and her connection to through her parents shaped her love for 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 at university and became a science teacher, but her beliefs were influenced by conservative 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 consuming other media and realized how much her social network had changed. She disagreed with the views of her church and decided to leave them after the 2016 US 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 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 through a similar journey. She emphasizes the importance of connecting with people through shared and providing a supportive environment for them to change their beliefs. 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 .

πŸ’¬ Discussion Questions:

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

πŸ“–πŸ’­ Vocabulary Meanings:

Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.

Words

1. climate change
2. hoax
3. advocate
4. community
5. science
6. beliefs
7. journey
8. education

Meanings

(A) Personal opinions or convictions
(B) Something that is not true or a deception
(C) The process of acquiring knowledge and skills
(D) The study of the natural world and its phenomena
(E) A group of people living in the same area
(F) Someone who supports and promotes a cause
(G) A process of traveling from one place to another
(H) The term that refers to global warming

πŸ”‘ 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 friends at church and a right-wing radio host
(d) Her grandparents who were coal miners
3. What was one turning point for Sarah in changing her beliefs about climate change?
(a) Attending a climate change conference
(b) Reading a book about climate change
(c) Tuning into a non-profit broadcaster that presented the issue differently
(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 works with non-partisan groups advocating for climate solutions
(b) She teaches climate change to her teenage students
(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) Making fun of people who are skeptical about climate change
(d) Connecting with people through shared values
7. What does recent research show about the partisan divide in the US regarding climate change?
(a) It is shrinking
(b) It is growing
(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 power of education and open-mindedness
(c) The need for stricter government regulations
(d) The ineffectiveness of advocacy groups

πŸ•΅οΈ True or False Questions:

Sarah has since changed her mind and become an advocate for clean energy and teaching the science of climate change to teenage students.
Sarah Ott used to believe that climate change was real.
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.
Sarah first encountered the term "climate change" as a young girl but didn't think it would affect her personally.
Sarah now volunteers with partisan groups that deny climate change and refuses to teach climate change to her teenage students.
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.
Sarah had to leave behind her community and face criticism in order to follow her new beliefs.
Sarah was influenced by her friends at church and a left-wing radio host.

πŸ“ Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

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?

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