Explore Step 2.3: 
Picturing climate change – using a global perspective

Suggested Subject Area: Environmental Education, Geography and Literacy

Purpose
To provide students with opportunities to:

• View and become familiar with some values, viewpoints and different perceptions in our world society
• Become familiar with using the arts as one way of crystallising and communicating issues and values
• Learn from and evaluate pictorial information about how the climate is changing and its impact on people and places globally, and in doing so, to empathise with the people and situations shown
• Develop skills involving viewing, comprehension, research, questioning, reporting and presenting.

Preparation
You will need:

• Access to the Internet or colour print outs of the student art work at http://www.unep.bayer.com/en/International-Children_s-Painting-Competition-18.aspx

Procedure
As a class explore how young people globally see climate change. Present students with a sample of artwork from the 18th International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment at http://www.unep.bayer.com/en/International-Children_s-Painting-Competition-18.aspx

View artwork from Russia, India, China, Iran, Brazil, Ukraine, USA, Japan, Australia, Germany, Qatar and Brunei.

Also, check out the regional winners from Portugal, China, Bahrain, Egypt, Chile and USA.

Discussion
Discuss how climate change messages are being communicated within the artwork, asking students to focus on what they think the artists are trying to say. What are some similarities between the images? What are some differences? Do the artists seem optimistic about the future or concerned? Note the student’s ideas of actions that can be implemented to adjust to the uncertainties of a changing climate. Discuss these.

Next - STAge 2b: Explore continued