COP28, the 28th annual climate conference, is taking place in Dubai between 30th November and 12th December 2023. World leaders are meeting there to discuss solutions to climate change and the future of our planet. And there’s one day in particular this year that’s dedicated to youth, children, education and skills – 8th December.
Oracy
Climate change is an extremely important topic – should children really be getting involved? Isn’t it too complex for youngsters to fully understand? Shouldn’t we trust world leaders to see the whole picture and do what’s right? Aren’t politicians the only ones who can bring a meaningful change anyway? Or is it vital that children’s voices are heard? Don’t they have a big part to play in persuading those in power to do what’s necessary? Isn’t it their future that members of the older generation are deciding? What do you think?
Writing skills
Comedy can often be used to make a serious point. Your task is to write a humorous dialogue between a young person and an adult that reverses the idea of parents demanding that their children tidy up their bedrooms. Using a playscript format, write a conversation between a child and a grownup about getting the adults to clean up the mess they made of the planet.
Or
Write a short story with a moral, rather like one of Aesop’s fables (such as The Hare and the Tortoise or The Boy Who Cried Wolf), about a person or an animal who puts off clearing up a mess until it’s too late. Remember to make the last line of your story a brief, clearly stated message to help the reader remember the point of the fable.
Investigate
Research and list five ways in which climate change is affecting the planet already, giving a brief explanation of each.
What is First News?
Launched in May 2006, First News is the most trusted weekly newspaper for young audiences, covering global headlines and empowering children with an understanding of the world in which they are growing up.
To find out more about how First News could help your school unlock the power of news-based learning, through high quality, weekly resources alongside the print and digital newspaper, visit the First News Education website.