The Thought: The world is facing the effects of global climate change and its impact. Islands and coastal regions around the world are sinking. Pacific Islander communities, organizations, and individuals are raising their voices to steward sustainability and bring visibility to the current threats of climate change in the Pacific Islands.

The Marshallese Poet, Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, brought world-wide attention to the threats facing her home during the 2014 Global Climate change forum.  As the sea level rises, entire communities of the Marshall Islanders battle back the tides to keep their homes and have to consider the future of their islands.  Coalitions of Pacific Islanders are continuing to speak out and find ways to connect the rest of the global community to the situation The traditional Polynesian vessel, the Hoku’lea, continues to travel around the world to fight for ocean conservancy and to highlight the inextricable connection of the ocean to Polynesian culture. Giving students the opportunity to think critically about climate change and sea level rise can lead them to an understanding of how their actions here are part of the solution.

 

Student Objectives

  1. Analyzes how the rising sea levels impacts global communities
  2. Identifies that global choices impact climate change and the futures of individual nations
  3. Understands that climate change leads to the displacement of peoples
  4. Understands the importance of the ocean to Pacific Islander communities historically and in the present

 

Time Frame: This lesson is designed for two classroom sessions with optional time set aside for updates on the voyage of the Hoku’lea.

 

Materials:     Projector with connection to computer with internet access.

Printed Malama Honua challenge hand outs for each student,

 

Vocabulary:

Refugee

Climate Change Refugee

Community

Conservation

Culture

Family

Home

Marshall Islands

Malama Honua

Sea Level Rise

 

Readings:

Information on Sea-Level Rise  http://ocean.si.edu/sea-level-rise

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/03/27/world/climate-rising-seas.html?_r=2

 

Global warming and climate change, by Chris Woodford. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/globalwarmingforkids.html

 

The Climate Time Machine

http://climatekids.nasa.gov/review/time-machine/

 

Maldives Expedition:

https://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/expeditions/sea-level/index.html

(Not specific to the Pacific Islands, but gives a broader understanding that this threat is worldwide)

 

 

Activity 1

Using the Think, Pair, Share thinking routine, ask the students to consider what they say to inspire other people to take action if they were facing the same kind of situation.

  1. K-2

Ask the students the following suggested questions:

  • “What are your favorite things to do here at school? Let them share their answers.
  • Follow up with this question: “How would you feel if those things were under water and you couldn’t reach them?

 

  1. 3rd-5thkathy-jetnil-kijiner

Watch Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner’s speech at the UN Climate Change Summit

 

  1. Ask the students the following suggested questions:
  • How do you connect with your mom, dada or siblings?
  • What would my parents say to save our own home and family?
  • If you were a parent, how would you feel if your own children were going to lose their home?
  • What does it mean to lose your home?

Other Resources: 350 Pacific http://world.350.org/pacificwarriors/the-pacific-warrior-journey/

 

 

Activity #2

How can elementary students in Seattle make a difference and work with Pacific Islander students to positively impact their world?

 

“Mālama honua is a Hawaiian concept that means to care for our Island Earth. Our Hawaiian voyaging canoes, Hōkūle’a and Hikianalia, are on a journey around the world to learn, create global relationships, and explore how to care for our oceans and Island Earth.”[i]

 

  1. Watch the video of the Hoku’lea and its mission.Malama Honua.image

http://www.hokulea.com/malama-honua-declarations/

 

  1. Following the video, ask the students to create their own Malama Honua They can even share their strategies with the program out of Hawaii Public Schools

http://www.hokulea.com/malama-honua-challenge/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[i] http://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/DOE%20Forms/MalamaHonua/poster.pdf