ROLE PLAY: SIX AMERICAS, SIX VIEWS ON GLOBAL WARMING EDUCATOR

The document outlines an educational activity where students role-play six distinct audience types—Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, and Dismissive—to practice science communication and evidence-based argumentation. It provides three scenarios: a coastal zoning law in 'Dune County', a school rain garden proposal, and a school sustainability plan. The goal is to foster social-emotional learning and critical thinking regarding climate change beliefs and misinformation.

• The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (YPCCC) has identified six unique audience segments within the American public, known as the Six Americas, based on national survey data.
• The Six Americas are categorized by their level of belief and action: the Alarmed are convinced and taking action; the Concerned are convinced but not yet personally engaged; the Cautious, Disengaged, and Doubtful represent varying stages of understanding and lack active involvement; and the Dismissive are certain climate change is not happening and oppose emission reduction efforts.
• The YPCCC developed a four-question multiple-choice tool called the Six Americas Super Short SurveY (SASSY) to determine which of the six categories an individual falls into.
• The educational activity aims to combine climate science with social-emotional learning by requiring students to explore beliefs different from their own and practice effective communication strategies.
• The guide provides specific scenarios for role-play, including a debate over a coastal zoning law to prevent erosion and storm surge in 'Dune County', a proposal for a school rain garden to mitigate flooding, and a school sustainability plan involving electric buses and composting.

APA

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (n.d.). ROLE PLAY: SIX AMERICAS, SIX VIEWS ON GLOBAL WARMING EDUCATOR. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2021/02/Role-Play-Educator-Page_2026.pdf

Chicago

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. ROLE PLAY: SIX AMERICAS, SIX VIEWS ON GLOBAL WARMING EDUCATOR. n.d. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2021/02/Role-Play-Educator-Page_2026.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Yale Program on Climate Change Communication |title=ROLE PLAY: SIX AMERICAS, SIX VIEWS ON GLOBAL WARMING EDUCATOR |url=https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2021/02/Role-Play-Educator-Page_2026.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yaleprogramonclimatechangecommunicationndrole, author = {{Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{ROLE PLAY: SIX AMERICAS, SIX VIEWS ON GLOBAL WARMING EDUCATOR}}, institution = {Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}, url = {https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2021/02/Role-Play-Educator-Page_2026.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }