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SASKATACHEWAN – GRADE 12
Climate Change in Saskatchewan: A Panel
Discussion
Lesson Overview
In this lesson students will engage in a role-play to analyze the potential impacts of climate
change in Saskatchewan. They will assess the risks and benefits associated with these
changes and propose policy recommendations.
Grade Level
Grade 12
Time Required
Two forty minute classes.
Curriculum Connection
Saskatchewan
Social 30 Unit 5: Globalization
http://www.sasklearning.gov.sk.ca/docs/social30/indexv.html
Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment Required

Canadian Geographic/NRTEE A Changing Climate poster-map

Role-Play Instructions

A Changing Climate poster-map Summary – Anticipated Effects – Student Activity
Sheet

Student Access to computers and the Internet
Websites:
National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) – Climate
Prosperity
http://www.climateprosperity.ca
Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative - SaskAdapt
http://www.parc.ca/saskadapt/

Analyst Role Cards - Attached

Government Representative Role Cards - Attached

Suggested Assessment Rubric - Attached
Main Objective
The goal of this lesson is for students to become aware of the potential risks and benefits of
climate change to the province of Saskatchewan. They will make recommendations to
mitigate the risks and enhance the benefits of these changes and present their findings to a
panel.
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SASKATACHEWAN – GRADE 12
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Summarize the impact of climate change on southern and northern areas of
Saskatchewan using the Canadian Geographic/NRTEE A Changing Climate postermap as secondary source of information;

Prepare a list of potential risks and benefits of climate change to Saskatchewan;

Develop a list of actions recommended to counteract the risks and enhance the
benefits of climate change to Saskatchewan;

Consult and cite additional references to create a list of recommendations;

Present, with the support of visual and multimedia resources, their findings to a
panel.
The Lesson
The Lesson
Teacher Activity
Student Activity
Introduction
Review previous times in
Canadian history where the
environment has changed and
government policies have had
to adapt and reflect these
changes (fisheries, forestry,
agriculture).
Participate in the review session.
Lesson
Development
Organize students into task
groups:
Form groups according to the instructor.
Environment
Health
Industry (including Agriculture)
Municipal Affairs
Infrastructure
(Review the main
responsibilities of each
government department if
required.)
Each task group will have a
policy analyst and a
government department panel
member. Additional members
Review the responsibilities of the
government departments if required.
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SASKATACHEWAN – GRADE 12
for each side can be added.
Provide students with
instructions for the role-play.
Review the instructions and
answer questions as needed.
Review the instructions for the role-play
and ask for clarification as required.
Distribute the CG/NRTEE A
Changing Climate poster-map
Summary – Anticipated Effects
– Student Activity Sheet to
analysts and panel members to
help them with note-taking and
preparation for the
presentations.
Provide students with the
Canadian Geographic/NRTEE A
Changing Climate poster-map.
Assist students with the
research component as
necessary.
Conclusion
Act as the moderator for the
panel discussion and analyst
presentations.
Complete the research required for each
role.
Policy Analysts present their findings to a
“panel” of government ministers in
charge of the environment, health,
industry, municipal affairs and
infrastructure.
Panel members will have the opportunity
to ask questions pertaining to
recommendations based on their
portfolio.
Lesson Extension

Prepare a national summit in a similar format with analysts and government
departments from all provinces and territories to discuss the impacts and make
recommendations for the country.

Design advertising materials that promote actions to take advantage of the potential
benefits of climate change for the province of Saskatchewan based on
recommendations presented to the panel. Remind students that beneficial impacts
will still require investment and adjustments in practices, choices, and behaviours;
they are not cost-free.
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
SASKATACHEWAN – GRADE 12
Assessment of Student Learning
Add criteria to the Suggested Rubric and assess each section of the lesson.
Further Reading
Climate Prosperity thematic module in the Canadian Atlas Online:
http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/themes.aspx?id=climateprosperity&lang=En
National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) web site:
http://www.climateprosperity.ca
Link to Canadian National Standards for Geography
Essential Element#4: Human Systems


Global economic interdependence (e.g. regional specialization, trade,
transnationalism, multinationals)
Economic development by world regions, country and regions within countries
Essential Element#5: Environment and Society


Global effects of human modification
Environmental issues (e.g. global warming)
Geographic Skill #2: Acquiring Geographic Information


Systematically locate and gather geographic information from a variety of primary
and secondary sources.
Systematically assess the value and use of geographic information.
Geographic Skill #4: Analyzing Geographic Information

Make inferences and draw conclusions from maps and other geographic
representations.
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SASKATACHEWAN – GRADE 12
Role-Play Instructions
Policy Analyst Role:
Assume you are a policy analyst hired by the Saskatchewan government to prepare a
briefing for the government departments potentially affected by climate change. To prepare
your recommendations, you must do the following:


Summarize the anticipated effects of climate change that will likely impact
Saskatchewan using the Canadian Geographic/NRTEE A Changing Climate postermap.
Summarize the key ideas from the NRTEE Climate Prosperity document.
http://www.climate-prosperity.ca




Research related agencies and websites directly applicable to your government
department for more specific background information, existing policies, framework
and helpful data.
Prepare a resource list of references for each source that you consult.
Present findings to a “panel” of government ministers in charge of Environment,
Health, Industry, Municipal Affairs and Infrastructure.
The presentation should include written summaries, supporting visuals and multimedia (pictures, charts and graphs, maps, etc.) that outline the following key ideas:
o Current impacts of extreme weather events (floods, droughts, etc.) to
the people, environment, and economy of Saskatchewan
o Anticipated effects of climate change;
o Potential risks to the province of Saskatchewan and recommended
actions to mitigate them;
o Potential benefits for the province of Saskatchewan and recommended
actions to enhance them;
o A summary of the overall threat/gain for Saskatchewan due to climate
change;
o A list of references consulted.
Panel members will have an opportunity to ask questions pertaining to recommendations
based on their portfolio.
Government Department Role:
Assume you are a panel member from one of the government departments assigned to you.
Prepare possible rebuttal questions for the policy analysts about the potential risks and
benefits of climate change to your government department. You will need to be familiar with
the Canadian Geographic/NRTEE A Changing Climate poster-map and be aware of related
concerns specific to your department.
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
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SASKATACHEWAN – GRADE 12
A Changing Climate poster-map Summary – Anticipated Effects
Student Activity Sheet
ECOSYSTEMS
Analyst
Government
Department
Panel
Member
WATER
RESOURCES
HUMAN
HEALTH
COMMUNITIES
AND
INFRASTRUCTURE
RESOURCE
INDUSTRIES
SERVICE
INDUSTRIES
SECURITY
AND
TRADE
ICE, SNOW &
SEA
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SASKATACHEWAN – GRADE 12
Analyst Role Cards
Assume you are a policy analyst hired by the government of Saskatchewan to propose recommendations for action in order to
prepare them for any possible impacts of climate change. You will report to the department responsible for the Environment and
must include the following information as part of your presentation to the panel:
 A brief summary of the anticipated effects of climate change that relate to this department.
 A list of possible risks and benefits and the recommended actions you propose the government and/or the private sector
take to help mitigate and/or enhance these changes.
 An overall evaluation of the impact of climate change for the province and the department in particular.
 A list of reliable references you consulted to prepare your presentation that they could consult for their decision-making.
Assume you are a policy analyst hired by the government of Saskatchewan to propose recommendations for action in order to
prepare them for any possible impacts of climate change. You will report to the department responsible for Health and must
include the following information as part of your presentation to the panel:
 A brief summary of the anticipated effects of climate change that relate to this department.
 A list of possible risks and benefits and the recommended actions you propose the government and/or the private sector
take to help mitigate and/or enhance these changes.
 An overall evaluation of the impact of climate change for the province and the department in particular.
 A list of reliable references you consulted to prepare your presentation that they could consult for their decision-making.
Assume you are a policy analyst hired by the government of Saskatchewan to propose recommendations for action in order to
prepare them for any possible impacts of climate change. You will report to the department responsible for Industry and must
include the following information as part of your presentation to the panel:
 A brief summary of the anticipated effects of climate change that relate to this department.
 A list of possible risks and benefits and the recommended actions you propose the government and/or the private sector
take to help mitigate and/or enhance these changes.
 An overall evaluation of the impact of climate change for the province and the department in particular.
 A list of reliable references you consulted to prepare your presentation that they could consult for their decision-making.
Assume you are a policy analyst hired by the government of Saskatchewan to propose recommendations for action in order to
prepare them for any possible impacts of climate change. You will report to the department responsible for Municipal Affairs
and must include the following information as part of your presentation to the panel:
 A brief summary of the anticipated effects of climate change that relate to this department.
 A list of possible risks and benefits and the recommended actions you propose the government and/or the private sector
take to help mitigate and/or enhance these changes.
 An overall evaluation of the impact of climate change for the province and the department in particular.
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas

SASKATACHEWAN – GRADE 12
A list of reliable references you consulted to prepare your presentation that they could consult for their decision-making.
Assume you are a policy analyst hired by the government of Saskatchewan to propose recommendations for action in order to
prepare them for any possible impacts of climate change. You will report to the department responsible for Infrastructure and
must include the following information as part of your presentation to the panel:
 A brief summary of the anticipated effects of climate change that relate to this department.
 A list of possible risks and benefits and the recommended actions you propose the government and/or the private sector
take to help mitigate and/or enhance these changes.
 An overall evaluation of the impact of climate change for the province and the department in particular.
 A list of reliable references you consulted to prepare your presentation that they could consult for their decision-making.
Government Representative Role Cards
Assume you are a representative with the government department responsible for the Environment. You are part of a panel
that will hear recommendations for action to prepare your department for any possible impacts of climate change. You must
prepare for the hearing by conducting this research:
 A brief summary of the anticipated effects of climate change that relate to your department.
 A list of possible risks and benefits and the recommended actions you propose the government and/or the private sector
take to help mitigate and/or enhance these changes.
 An overall evaluation of the impact of climate change for the province and your department in particular.
 A list of potential questions you might ask the policy analysts.
 A list of reliable references you consulted to prepare you for this panel hearing.
Assume you are a representative with the government department responsible for Health. You are part of a panel that will
hear recommendations for action to prepare your department for any possible impacts of climate change. You must prepare for
the hearing by conducting this research:
 A brief summary of the anticipated effects of climate change that relate to your department.
 A list of possible risks and benefits and the recommended actions you propose the government and/or the private sector
take to help mitigate and/or enhance these changes.
 An overall evaluation of the impact of climate change for the province and your department in particular.
 A list of potential questions you might ask the policy analysts.
 A list of reliable references you consulted to prepare you for this panel hearing.
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
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SASKATACHEWAN – GRADE 12
Assume you are a representative with the government department responsible for Industry. You are part of a panel that will
hear recommendations for action to prepare your department for any possible impacts of climate change. You must prepare for
the hearing by conducting this research:
 A brief summary of the anticipated effects of climate change that relate to your department.
 A list of possible risks and benefits and the recommended actions you propose the government and/or the private sector
take to help mitigate and/or enhance these changes.
 An overall evaluation of the impact of climate change for the province and your department in particular.
 A list of potential questions you might ask the policy analysts.
 A list of reliable references you consulted to prepare you for this panel hearing
Assume you are a representative with the government department responsible for Municipal Affairs You are part of a panel
that will hear recommendations for action to prepare your department for any possible impacts of climate change. You must
prepare for the hearing by conducting this research:
 A brief summary of the anticipated effects of climate change that relate to your department.
 A list of possible risks and benefits and the recommended actions you propose the government and/or the private sector
take to help mitigate and/or enhance these changes.
 An overall evaluation of the impact of climate change for the province and your department in particular.
 A list of potential questions you might ask the policy analysts.
 A list of reliable references you consulted to prepare you for this panel hearing.
Assume you are a representative with the government department responsible for Infrastructure. You are part of a panel
that will hear recommendations for action to prepare your department for any possible impacts of climate change. You must
prepare for the hearing by conducting this research:
 A brief summary of the anticipated effects of climate change that relate to your department.
 A list of possible risks and benefits and the recommended actions you propose the government and/or the private sector
take to help mitigate and/or enhance these changes.
 An overall evaluation of the impact of climate change for the province and your department in particular.
 A list of potential questions you might ask the policy analysts.
 A list of reliable references you consulted to prepare you for this panel hearing.
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
SASKATACHEWAN – GRADE 12
Suggested Assessment Rubric
1
CG/NRTEE A Changing
Climate poster-map
Summary – Anticipated
Effects
List of Risks and Benefits
with Recommendations
Citation of References
Overall Evaluation of the
Impact (+/-) of Climate
Change to the province
of Saskatchewan
Preparation and
Participation in Panel
2
3
4