Genre - NONFICTIONSummary – This chapter book is an informative, eye opening text written by a leading climatologist, David Archer. Based on information he has gathered and from others, he makes predictions about the state of the earth in our future and what our current actions and behaviors regarding resources on the planet will affect future generations in a big way. One main problem Archer foresees is that, based on the amount of carbon dioxide we emit, the oceans may raise 50 meters through the melting of Antarctic sheets and Greenland. The main cause of these changes, as explained in the book, is mainly from our carbon dioxide emissions, fossil fuel usage, and over use of natural resources. The author predicts a grim future for the earth, but sheds light on our ability, as inhabitants of this planet, to improve the state of the earth and the climate by changing our daily actions.
Teaching Points – This longer book should be used with upper grades. Teachers can create many useful activities using this book. Teachers can have students research specific ways to improve human effects on the climate (and use examples from the book) and create brochures, PowerPoints, or posters to share with the class, school, and community. This book can be used as a tool to help teach students to advocate for causes, such as improving the earth’s health. In addition, students can research information about climatologists themselves. Teachers can access the website given below from the WHO or locate a local climatologist who might come in and be a guest speaker in your classroom.
Suggested Reading Level – Grade 7 – 12
Additional Resources – The official website for the World Health Organization (WHO) is a great resource to access or have students access to learn valuable, research-based information about the earth, including human effects on the environment, vegetation, climate change, organisms, etc. A great article was published a while back that gives great information. [ Find this article at - http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2008/s05/en/index.html ]. Students can find an article to do a report on, contact a WHO member and conduct an informal interview, or even present information to the class in a manner similar to how Archer presented his information in his book.
Citation – Archer, D. (2008). The long thaw: How humans are changing the next 100,000 years of the earth's climate. Princeton University Press
ISBN-10: 0691136548
