Teacher Resources

This page is dedicated to resources specifically for teachers as well as answering frequently asked questions.

 

Free Teacher Resource Links:

  • "Learning Module" (student-facing content for all 72 cards of the game)
  • "Main tutorial" (full 5-minute tutorial for how to play Climate Cooldown!)
  • "Video Shorts" (a series of fun and quick how-to-play videos for the game)
  • "Player count guide" (a guide to how to play the game with different numbers of players/students per game)

 

Request Access for Resources: (email us!)

  • Teacher-facing content with exemplary answers to all prompts for "Learning Module" curriculum
  • Full 1-week or 2-week curriculum for elementary school, middle School, high school levels including slide decks for each day and a curriculum overview.
  • Discussion Frames Video for Teachers

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Q: How to buy the game for your school? 
    A: You can order games through this website, or if you need a special order placed with Clean Earth Future Game Studio as a vendor, please contact cleanearthfuture@gmail.com in order for us to get set up. We are already a vendor with the LAUSD if this applies to your school.
  • Q: How many games per class are needed?
    A: We recommend around 4-12 students per copy of the game. So if your class size is 30 students, at least 3 copies of the game is suggested, however 4 or 5 would be even better. If you have more than 12 students playing a single copy of the game, it may limit their participation overall. You can also have as few as 2 students play a single copy of the game. You can find a guide to player count here.
  • Q: Can the game be played in one class period?
    A: Yes, however, the time it takes to play the game may vary. It is better to set aside at least 90 minutes to play the game to be safe. If you don't have 90 minutes to play the game in one class period, you can use the "Reset Sheet" provided on this page to have students jot down the details of their progress on day 1, and then on day 2, use their notes to reset the game where they left off to finish the same game session they started.
  • Q: If we only have 1 day with the game, is it worth it?
    A: If you only have 1 45-50 minute class period to play the game, it can still be a great way for students to explore topics from the game and see what it looks like to model the dynamics of Earth and Human systems. That being said, having more time that a single day is recommended to get the most out of the game, and the supplementary curriculum.
  • Q: Do I need to know how to play the game to teach with it?
    A: It is highly recommended that a teacher first learn to play the game before implementing it in their lesson plans. We have professional development courses and certification for teachers that are serious about not only teaching with Climate Cooldown but also utilizing the curriculum and lesson plans we have for ES/MS/HS/AP levels. Please each out to us to find out more about this opportunity.
  • Q: What NGSSs are covered through the game? What about other standards?
    A: Depending on whether you use the full curriculum and lesson plans for your given grade level, different standards will be covered. Here is a page where you can view all of the standards covered.
  • Q: How many days is the curriculum?
    A: Currently, we have options for 2 day, 5 day (1 week), 10 day (2 weeks).
  • Q: I don't have time for learning how to play the game, can I still teach with it?
    A: Yes, you can. If you do however, it is recommended that you give additional time for yourself and the class to learn to play using the lesson plan for day 1 to be used entirely for learning how to play. It would also help to assign the game tutorials listed on this page for homework the day before to help prime the students.
  • Q: What other subjects outside of environmental science are covered in the curriculum that intersect and make it interdisciplinary?
    A: Art, SDGs, PolySci, History, Language arts, Math, pathways (academic degrees and careers).
  • Q: Is there a teacher-facing version of the student-facing curriculum?
    A: Yes, request access for pilot via email!
  • Q: Has the game been tested in schools already--how do I know that it could work as a teaching tool for my school?
    A: Yes, the game has been tested both during the development and prototyping phase as well as the final version of the game. It has been tested in elementary, middle, high schools as well as at the college undergraduate level. You can view teacher testimonials here and student testimonials here.
  • Q: Can we contact your game studio with questions about the game?
    A: Yes! We are open to questions and feedback about the game as well as the curriculum.
  • Q: What do we do if our students lose the game? How do we explain that this isn't the end of the world?
    A: Ideally, it is best to check in with students before they get to this point in gameplay. For example, if you see the Global meter in the red or close to the red, to begin a discussion around whether we think we can turn things around at this point. If we don't think we can, it is a great opportunity to reflect on how we got here, looking at the cards we bought so far as well as the disasters. Either way, it is important to remind students that this is just a game and a way for us to model the things we need to do to turn things around. Reminding them that this game provides us with a platform and chance to learn about strategies for climate action is also a good move. Lastly, that they shouldn't worry if they don't get it right the first time around. Let's focus on growth and what we've learned from our outcomes. 
  • Q: What sources did you use to design the game so that it is factual?
    A: Among the many sources we used, some include Project Drawdown's books Drawdown and Regeneration and documentary films like Seaspiracy. We also have suggested resources for all card topics in the teacher facing content. 
  • Q: What if I don't know how to answer a question my students have while they're playing the game? What do I do? Any help?
    A: The primary "go-to" resource that will help you out on this front is the online "learning module" which can be accessed at learn.climatecooldown.com -- there is dedicated page for each of the unique 72 cards of the game. For a deeper dive, the teacher-facing version of the learning module also has suggested resources which can help. Lastly, the "Design Elements of Climate Cooldown" video helps answer lots of common questions about the game such as "Why are there two meters in the game?" To access this please email us as this is a part of the resources that comes with the full curriculum. 
  • Q: Do you have translations into other languages?
    A: Not yet, however we do have plans to translate the game materials and instructions into Spanish and Mandarin in the near future. 
  • Q: How can I teach the game if I am a teacher who is working remotely?
    A: We are currently working on curriculum for this purpose. 
  • Q: Does your game studio have any discounts for schools purchasing games?
    A: Yes, MOQ would be 8 games for this. Inquire for more details and quantities!
  • Q: Do you have discussion frames for teachers to use?
    A: Yes. This is a part of the curriculum package, currently upon request for pilot.
  • Q: Can the game *actually* be won?
    A: Yes! :) And, if the normal mode it too easy for some advanced students, there is a hard mode which is very challenging. 
  • Q: What if my students and I can't win the game, what then? I don't want them to fall into doom and gloom!
    A: We have video segments for this that is available upon request via email. Reach out to us!
  • Q: Is the game friendly for students who are colorblind?
    A: Yes.
  • Q: Is this game good for ELOPs and after-school programs?
    A: Yes! In fact, if you want to test how students at your school respond to the game and also have teachers be able to play-test the game with students before bringing it into the class, this is one avenue that some schools have already used.
  • Q: Is the game available on Amazon marketplace?
    A: Currently no.
  • Q: I am a 1st/2nd grade teacher, can we still play the game? Will my kids get it?
    A: For Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd graders we generally suggest having the kids look through the cards and discover ones that interest them to learn more. We also suggest interdisciplinary assignments with this exploration such as having the kids recreate the artwork for one or more cards they are interested and to present what they learned about the card(s) to the class. We are also developing a new mini-game for younger students from Pre-K to 3rd grade. Feel free to reach out to inquire!
  • Q: Who is this game designed for? What grade levels?
    A: The game was designed to be playable for ages 8 and up or rather 3rd grade and higher levels up to undergrad. That being said, we have had kids as young as 6 or 7 play the game well in small groups of around 4-8 kids in a game. We have curriculum designed for ES (3rd-5th), MS (6th-8th), HS (9th-12th) and Advanced/AP.
  • Q: Have you done any studies for how effective this game is in the classroom to prove its efficacy?
    A: We are currently conducting a study using pre-/post-game worksheets. For now, you can view teacher testimonials here and student testimonials here.