Activity #2: Creating a TakingITGlobal Account (20 minutes)

Direct students to create a TakingITGlobal account, introducing the site as a tool and pointing out the various sections that will be used as resources or referral points (Discussion Board, Activities/Assignments page, how to upload, etc.) – Refer to TakingITGlobal Sign Up Handout

Activity #3: Watch Video

Watch the Greenhouse Effect video and take notes on the following terms while watching it.

• Climate change
• Fossil fuels
• Global warming
• Greenhouse effect
• Greenhouse gases

Following the video, write down definitions to these terms. As a class, compare your definitions to ensure that you have all grasped these important climate change concepts.

Activity #4: Discussion

To be done in groups of about 10 students.

1. Choose one of the Societies Past to investigate (make sure class is divided evenly among the three topics).

2. Read through the handout and look to clues that reveal the fate of the civilization.

3. Do online research to discover what happened to the civilization.

4. In your group, discuss how you can relate the stories of this society to the way in which your society operates.

5. Post a 200 word blog to the Student Blogs section that answers the following questions in a short paragraph:

• How is the story of the Vikings, Anasazi, or Easter Islanders relevant today?
• What sort of impact do current human societies have on their surrounding environments? (visit TakingITGlobal's climate change page link for tons of additional resources and information about climate change action)
• Should we be concerned about our own future, considering the current impact of humans on the environment?
• What might be some indicators that different parts of earth might be reaching their "carrying capacity"?
• What lessons can we learn from studying this historical civilization?
• Respond to one other blog posting