Introduction
Dive into environmental storytelling with this lesson, where students address climate issues by designing a "Choose Your Own Adventure." They'll pick a problem—like biodiversity loss, water scarcity, deforestation, climate change, or pollution—and craft stories with choices leading to different environmental outcomes, showcasing the significance of our actions on the planet.
Objectives
Students will:
- Research a climate issue such as biodiversity loss, water scarcity, deforestation, or pollution.
- Write a narrative with branching paths exploring different environmental outcomes.
- Code interactive story elements highlighting consequences of various decisions.
- Share their stories to discuss and reflect on environmental impact.
Code Stories and Games with Elementari
With Elementari’s node-based visual coding, students can create interactive 'Choose Your Own Adventure' stories. They can code the user navigation to different environmental scenarios and outcomes. This approach helps students understand the complexities of climate issues while developing their coding and storytelling skills.
New to Elementari? Click on the orange Start button to jump right into the lesson for free. Check out our Getting Started Guide for an overview of how Elementari works with your class. Get started for free for up to 35 student accounts.
Lesson Resources
Coding Concepts Covered
Background Music User NavigationStudent Facing Instructions
- Select a climate issue (biodiversity loss, water scarcity, deforestation, climate change, or pollution)
- Conduct research - Use the Research Organizer (PDF or google doc) to help.
- Outline your story. Use the Writing Organizer (PDF or google doc) to help.
Create a title page and introduce your main character and the climate challenge they face.
Present the crucial choice and the two paths forward.
Show the positive impact of the choice on the climate issue.
Describe the negative effects on the environment and characters.
Code the user navigation for the button choices.
Lock the navigation on the choice page. Code the negative result to go back to the choice page.
Code background music that complements the mood of your story.
Be creative. Add images, backgrounds, and maybe write more choices for this story!
Project Example for Students
Play through this lesson's example project created on Elementari. Use this example to guide and motivate your students.
Standards
CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards (2017)
Algorithms & Programming
2-AP-10 - Use flowcharts and/or pseudocode to address complex problems as algorithms.
2-AP-13 - Decompose problems and subproblems into parts to facilitate the design, implementation, and review of programs.
2-AP-17 - Systematically test and refine programs using a range of test cases.
3A-AP-13 - Create prototypes that use algorithms to solve computational problems by leveraging prior student knowledge and personal interests.
3A-AP-16 - Design and iteratively develop computational artifacts for practical intent, personal expression, or to address a societal issue by using events to initiate instructions.
ISTE Student Standards
Creative Communicator
6d - Students publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.
6a - Students choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.
6c - Students communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models or simulations.
6b - Students create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.
Computational Thinker
5c - Students break problems into component parts, extract key information, and develop descriptive models to understand complex systems or facilitate problem-solving.
5a - Students formulate problem definitions suited for technology-assisted methods such as data analysis, abstract models and algorithmic thinking in exploring and finding solutions.
Innovative Designer
4a - Students know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts or solving authentic problems.
4d - Students exhibit a tolerance for ambiguity, perseverance and the capacity to work with open-ended problems.
4c - Students develop, test and refine prototypes as part of a cyclical design process.
4b - Students select and use digital tools to plan and manage a design process that considers design constraints and calculated risks.
AASL Standards
Inquire
I.A.1 - Formulating questions about a personal interest or a curricular topic.
I.A.2 - Recalling prior and background knowledge as context for new meaning
I.B.3 - Generating products that illustrate learning.
I.C.4 - Sharing products with an authentic audience.
I.D.2 - Engaging in sustained inquiry.
I.D.3 - Enacting new understanding through real-world connections.