michelaleonardi Board game, Outreach

Climate Change activity with schoolchildren at the Zoology Museum

Yesterday I had another opportunity to do outreach about climate change with two groups of Year 8 students (12-13 years old), at the Museum of Zoology, University of Cambridge.

As usual, the session started with a short talk explaining the relationship between climate change, evolution and extinction. After that, the students had explored these tipics by playing “Climate change” my board game.

Learning how climate changes impact animal species gives a better understanding of the actual threats linked to the current climate emergency. Understanding such processes through a game makes the students’ experience more engaging and less stressful than it would be when following a lecture or a talk.

michelaleonardi Board game, Outreach

School talk about Climate change and evolution

I was invited to give a talk for Science Week at Sancton Wood School, Cambridge. The title of my talk was “Back to Earth: climate change and evolution”, and I discussed the impact of past, present, and future climate changes on animal species.

I had a lot of fun, and I am very grateful to Emilia Angelillo, science technician at Sancton Wood School, for inviting me!

Teachers or schools wanting to organise activities with me can get in contact through this link.

michelaleonardi Board game, Outreach

Climate Change activity with schoolchildren at the Zoology Museum

Yesterday I hosted a session about climate change with Year 10 students (14-15 years old), at the Museum of Zoology, University of Cambridge.

I gave a short talk explaining the relationship between climate change, evolution and extinction, and then the students played with “Climate change“, the board game that I created based on my research.

Learning how climate changes impact animal species gives a better understanding of the actual threats linked to the current climate emergency. Understanding such processes through a game makes the students’ experience more engaging and less stressful than it would be when following a lecture or a talk.

michelaleonardi Board game, Outreach

Climate Change activity with schoolchildren at the Zoology Museum

In the next couple of weeks, I will be hosting three sessions about climate change with Year 10 students (14-15 years old), at the Museum of Zoology, University of Cambridge.

I will be giving a short talk explaining the relationship between climate change, evolution and extinction and then we will play the board game that I have created based on my research.

Learning how climate changes impact animal species gives a better understanding of the actual threats linked to the current climate emergency. Understanding such processes through a game makes the students’ experience more engaging and less stressful than it would be when following a lecture or a talk.

michelaleonardi Board game, Outreach

New release: Climate change – the board game

I have just released Climate Change – the board game: a free educational board game about evolution and climate change. The aim is to “put yourself in the paws” of animal species, and to experience both their evolution and their struggles in the current climate emergency.

Climate change - the board game

Each player is a medium/large mammal species, living in a word where climate changes unexpectedly. Every species has its DNA and collects mutations through time, allowing it to adapt to new habitats. Sometimes evolving is not an option, and the species must migrate or it will go extinct. And that’s just the start… when humans start to modify the climate with their activities it’s a whole new level!

It is print-and-play: all the materials needed for the game can be downloaded from here, or there is the option to play it online (and it won’t cost a penny, it’s all free!).

Climate change - the board game
Climate change – the board game

It has been designed as an educational resource for schools (groups of 4-5 people, with an approximate duration of 30 minutes to leave space for discussion and questions): we have used it successfully to do outreach at the Museum of Zoology, University of Cambridge. Still, it can also be played with friends and family.

Climate change the board game activity at the Zoology Museum, Cambridge