Beating the Heat
Changing lives: Extreme events
Read one or more articles from the five links below. They all describe how extreme weather has affected people’s lives.
- Heat wave survival advice updated
- Boiled alive
- Over 11,000 dead in French heat
- Violent storms end UK’s heat wave
- Japan vetoes suits in summer heat
Use the information to create three mind-maps on:
- People who are affected
- People who can make a difference
- Ways the population can stay healthy.
- Download the mind-map templates
Role playing
Is clothing enough to protect you from rising temperatures and violent storms? What else do we need to consider, for example, the rising demand for electricity to power air conditioning in heat-waves?
- Download the role cards
Now, imagine it is summer 2080 and the worst case scenario of high emissions has happened. Divide into small groups and each take on one of the roles on the cards:
- Paramedic
- Minister for Health
- Commuter
- Older person
- Ice-cream seller
- Caterer
- Electrician
Read through your role-card and prepare a two minute long presentation. Talk about how climate change is affecting your life. Include at least one advantage and one disadvantage. Go to Google and search for images to support your presentation (if you have time).
Then, listen to each others presentation and ask questions.