A. Nicole Campellone and Kasey BowmanB.

Curricular Area and Age: High School Biology Curricular Connections: “Understand the impact of human activities on the

environment (one generation affects the next).” Our media topic focuses on human environmental impact throughout the

years and what the future of the planet will hold depending on human actions.

Information and Technology Essential Standards Curriculum: “Use appropriate technology tools and other resources to design products to share information with others (e.g. multimedia presentations, Web 2.0 tools, graphics, podcasts, and audio files).”

When creating the PSA, the students will be required to use a computer for editing, use audio recording, and video recording devices, all to create a multimedia presentation.

The NC Professional Teaching Standards: “Teachers make the content they teach engaging, relevant, and meaningful to students’ lives.”

The topic of the media I will be presenting on is about how each of our individual decisions as people has a direct impact on the world we are living in.

C. The 11th Hour TrailerD. Video (movie trailer)E. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IBG2V98IBY F. Questions:1) Thirty-second brain drain: What do you think of when you hear the words Global

Climate Change and Sustainability?This question will be used to gauge how much the students already know about the topic. For a thirty-second brain drain, the students have thirty seconds to write as many points from the posed topic. These could be phrases, full sentences, or just single words. When I completed this “challenge,” my answers were as follows: Future of the world, hot, cold, extremes, science, recycling, scientists, reuse, and use less of.

2) What decisions were made by the director and producers?A conscious effort was made to have a very recognizable face as the spokesperson for this film. Leonardo DiCaprio works as a device to draw in viewers with his household name branding. Visuals of natural disasters flashing rapidly on-screen as the narrator speaks of the human impacts of the planet really showcase where the direction of the film will go.

3) Who was the target audience for the messages in the media?The 11th Hour is appropriate for any young adult or adult audience interested in exploring environmental issues and solutions.

4) What messages does The 11th Hour send about relationships between people and the world?

Topics covered in this film such as climate change/global warming, overpopulation, excessive consumption, biodiversity loss, and pollution among

others are all correlated with human impact. The solutions to these environmental issues also involve human interaction on even the smallest level.

5) How might the viewing of this documentary change how people act?Watching this documentary may persuade viewers to be more environmentally aware. It may promote sustainability in everyday life up to advocating for political policy changes.

6) How might different audiences view this differently?This film can be educational in raising awareness of current issues that may not be known to the general public. It can also provide an opportunity for institutions of higher learning to lead the way towards environmental recovery.

7) Would the meaning of this piece of media differ if viewed by someone older or younger, someone of a different race or nationality, or someone of a different socioeconomic status?

An audience that is too young may be scared of the idea of a “dying” Earth. On the other side, a much older audience may not believe the message of this film viewing it as “liberal propaganda”. People may feel like the film is not directed specifically to them because they may feel that there is nothing they can do to help with the current situation presented in the film. This could be due to age or even socioeconomic status and the feeling of not having a voice in our government’s politics because of it.

8) What topics presented in the film would you like to explore further? Do you know what you need to know in order to continue learning about environmental issues? If the answer to that question is no, how can you find out what you need to know?

Topics covered include: climate change/global warming, overpopulation, excessive consumption, biodiversity loss, speed of devastation, air and water pollution, social justice, “green” decision making and “redesigning design,” renewable energy, and local community action. Further research can be done online, in your local library, academic journals, more educational films, ect.

9) Describe some of the emotions you felt during the film. Which aspects of the video had the greatest impact on you and why?

For the first half of the trailer, the narrator, interviewees, and scenes of destruction evoked a sense of guiltiness. The audio states that the global climate issue is the human races’ fault, which not only evokes guiltiness, but worry for the future. The second half of the trailer carries a somewhat lighter mood. This gave me a sense of hope, seeing that even though it is the 11th hour, it’s not too late for the damage to be corrected.

10) Even though the film shows the negative impacts that people have on the environment, in what ways if any do they show a positive side?

The film gives several different options for how the human race can change the future for the better through green energy and sustainable practices.

11) Why do you think the news anchors’ audio over the video clips at the beginning is included? What is its purpose in relation to the video’s message?

The news anchors’ audio is important because it shows that these sort of disasters are covered worldwide through the news. I recognized Brian Williams’ voice almost immediately, which told me that the storm being shown was covered on national news here in the United States. The audio was included, along with the video clips of the storms and the damage, because it shows how advanced global climate change has become. The overall message of the movie is that the Earth is spiraling out of control due to human actions and global climate change, and that humans can also take actions to attempt to correct the detrimental consequences of climate change.

12) What is the purpose of the editors including the following images and text overlay, and do the colors have a significance?

The purpose of the short phrases of text overlaying the image is to draw our attention to the main points of each segment of the trailer. The first text that shows on the screen is “Our planet has reached the 11th hour,” which states that the planet has reached a critical time. The 11th hour, as a phrase, means that it is the last possible moment until it is too late to turn back or reverse the consequences. The next phrase, “The crisis is real,” is shown in the midst of the devastating weather clips. Among these, people are shown stranded in floods, hurricanes and tornadoes are destroying homes and land, and wildfires are raging; the clips clearly demonstrate that, indeed, “The danger is now”. All three of these photos and video clips up to this point have been very dark in color and showing destruction and fear. About halfway through the video, a positive phrase is shown, with the Earth in the background. The text reads, “The hope is you,” and the music changes to an upbeat tempo. The video then shifts from “What is going wrong” to “How can we fix it”. The lighter colors and more positive attitude throughout the rest of the video allow for a shift in mood, and push for affirmative action towards ending global climate change and proactive sustainability for life.

13) How did the music change halfway through the video affect how you felt? What purpose did this effect have in the video?

The music at the beginning of the video is very quiet and mostly overwhelmed by the sounds of storm, trash dumping into containers and bodies of water, and the voices of the narrator or interviewees. The music gets louder and more dramatic as the film progresses, up until 1:08, when the film silences for half a second. At this point, the tone of the message changes, and as does the music. The music switches from a very dramatic orchestral piece to “What I’ve Done” by Linkin Park; not only a very fitting tune, but also a fitting song title. This song changes the entire half of the video, giving it a more uplifting and upbeat tune and shift in mood and feelings.

14) How does the video relate global climate change and human involvement?The short movie trailer clearly shows the connection between global climate change and human involvement. Through the video clips, Leonardo DiCaprio’s narrations, and the various individuals being interviewed, the conclusion is drawn that global warming is directly affected by human actions. Towards the end of the video, it also shows that humans can also directly affect the slowing or reversing of global warming by striving for a sustainable future and positive actions.

15) Explain what sustainability means and give two examples from the video that shows sustainability.

Sustainability is the ability to sustain, support, and uphold quality of life while also not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources, while also supporting long-term ecological balance. Two examples from the video that shows sustainable actions or sustainability in life are the wind turbines and wind farms shown at 1:20 in the movie, and the solar panels and solar-powered plane model shown at 1:35.

G. Have students create a public service announcement (PSA) about the environmental impacts people have on society. Students must film and edit this multimedia project on their choice of software (ex. iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, Adobe Final Cut Pro) and present researched information. Students may be as creative as they like for this project. There must be a minimum of three (3) current environmental issues and proposed solutions for each. There will be a four minute maximum for each video.