Overview
Has the earth warmed? Have we caused it? Does it matter? Is there really a looming crisis or is this much ado about nothing? And what happens to people who disagree? This segment looks at the way the global warming debate is playing out.

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Grade level and subjects
• Recommended for grades 6-12
• Subjects: Science / Technology
• Works in Classroom, Hybrid, and Homeschool settings

What students will learn
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• discuss the treatment of scientists who disagree with global warming advocates;
• analyze various sides in the debate over global warming;
• assess the claim that the debate about global warming is over; and
• assess the argument that governments must act to prevent an impending crisis.

Key concepts and terms covered
CDC (Centers for Disease Control), Dysentery, and IPCC.

Sample discussion questions
• It seems that a lot of scientists believe that global warming is real and that people have something to do with it. According to the video, how many scientists believe that?
• Pat Michaels also said that he’s lived through eight environmental apocalypses, and named four: the population bomb, acid rain, the ozone hole, global cooling. Do you know about these? Did they turn out to be big crises? What do you think he’s saying about global warming?
• Climate scientist Judith Curry said that scientists actually agree on a very narrow slice of things. What do they agree on? What don’t they agree on?
• What might be the motivations for the scientists who speak out as proponents of the existence of a global warming crisis? What about the motivations of scientists who speak out as opponents of a crisis?
• Nobel Prize winner Bill Moomaw, who appeared in the video, said he and his wife built a zero net energy house in New England. The home is completely solar; it uses no fossil fuel. Why does that matter?

What’s in the free teacher’s guide
This printable 17-page Teacher's Guide includes a lesson description, learning objectives, key vocabulary, a fill-in viewing guide with answer key, discussion and analysis questions, and classroom activities.

Standards alignment
Aligned to state standards — use the SITC Standards Tool to match this video to the standards in your state.