Striving for Balanced Responses to Climate Change
85-100 Minutes
Resource Review(minus 15 minutes if completed before class)
Carbon Traces
Guided Discussion
Resource Review(optional, add 20 minutes)
Writing Exercise
Beyond the Soil
Guided Discussion
Writing Exercise
Closing Thoughts and Evaluations
Participants will be able to:
Interpret clinical information about the connections between mental health and climate change
Make interpretations and connections between the films and their own experiences, thoughts, and feelings
Draw conclusions and make inferences about protagonists and films
Free-write about their personal connections to nature and to others
"Striving for Balanced Responses to Climate Change" asks participants to consider their emotional responses to climate change through the lens of two short films and two different positive strategies for responding to mental distress caused by climate change. First, participants will watch an animation in which carbon shavings are animated to shed light on both the challenges and hopes for our environment. Participants will discuss and write about their connections to the natural world. Next, a documentary will shed light on how farmers in Colorado are navigating changes in climate and weather. Participants will discuss and then write about their connection to other people.
Please note. This class:
- Includes supplementary materials that can be completed at the start of class or assigned as homework. If assigned as homework, the class duration may be approximately 15 minutes shorter.
- Has an optional Supplemental Resource that can allow for more time spent learning about ecotherapy. Please plan to add at least 10 minutes to the class time if you plan to incorporate this Resource.
- Includes a resource about farmers' mental health that is provided as background information and not explicitly included in the Class prompts.
topics covered
Climate Change
aom nutrients
Respect for Practical Constraints, Honest Self Reflection
casel sel
Self-awareness, Self-management, Responsible decision making
wellness wheel
Environmental, Social
identities
White, Man / male, Woman / female, Adult, Older adult, Parent, Farmer, Animated and/or ambiguous
film style
Animation, Documentary
Films Included
Beyond the Soil
Beyond the Soil is a short, poetic documentary which explores the emotional impact of climate change on farmers and ranchers who are on the frontlines of Colorado's megadrought in the Rocky Mountain West.
film style
Documentary
identities
White, Man / male, Woman / female, Adult, Older adult, Parent, Farmer
Carbon Traces
Humans were once in harmony with nature, but now exploit its resources. Overconsumption in all forms has led to an imbalance. As humans grow more disconnected, they face an existential crisis and strive to restore the balance.
film style
Animation
identities
Animated and/or ambiguous