The Last Generation

Articles/Websites

Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Science, History

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by PBS

Open Resource

What it is

This is an interactive film and animated story that addresses the existential threat that the Marshall Islands face due to climate change, as told by three children.
Students will get a present, past, and future perspective, as well as view maps of the Marshall Islands, read text, and listen to the music and sounds that accompany the segments.

Teaching tips

Positives

This resource is emotionally moving, with compelling footage of children discussing their homes, schools, and the challenges they face due to climate change.
This video is self-paced and allows time to process the content.

Additional Prerequisites

This resource requires active participation, including scrolling through parts of the experience when ready.
This interactive film includes video segments, animations, and text segments.
The content may be emotional for students, especially the last segment.
Each segment could take an entire class period to complete.

Differentiation

After this activity, have students discuss ways that climate change impacts other species and the people who are least responsible for it. Have them write a reflection paper or journal about this.
In order for students to learn more about the mangrove restoration referenced in this resource, have them listen to this podcast examining why mangroves are disappearing or watch this video which highlights an approach to restoring mangrove forests.
Social studies classes could do a deeper dive into the United Nations climate change agreements, the Paris Agreements in particular, and the impact that these agreements are having on the Marshall Islands.
Consider providing students with note-taking guides and then allowing them to work through this interactive experience with a partner in order to encourage dialogue, provide support to all learners, and allow for self-paced reflection.

From the scientist review

This resource highlights the impact of climate change and imperialism on the native people of the Marshall Islands. The islands (according to archeologists) were discovered over 2,000 years ago and will likely be submerged by rising sea levels and extreme weather events. The people are suffering the impacts. This calls for urgent intervention by world leaders to save the islands, their people, and their cultural heritage from disappearing. This resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects: Science, History
Other types: Videos, Interactive Media
Language: English
Location: Earth, Oceania
Provider: PBS
Authors: Frontline and the Groundtruth Project
Published: November 1, 2022
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · D2.Geo.9.6-8 + 10 more

Core

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards

D2.Geo.9.6-8Evaluate the influences of long-term human-induced environmental change on spatial patterns of conflict and cooperation.
D2.Geo.9.9-12Evaluate the influence of long-term climate variability on human migration and settlement patterns, resource use, and land uses at local-to-global scales.
D4.6.9-12Use disciplinary and interdisciplinary lenses to understand the characteristics and causes of local, regional, and global problems; instances of such problems in multiple contexts; and challenges and opportunities faced by those trying to address these problems over time and place.

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub

English Language Arts

R.7.1Cite textual evidence to support an analysis of what the text says explicitly/implicitly and make logical inferences. (RI&RL)
SL.9-10.3Understand and evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, identifying any fallacious reasoning or exaggerated or distorted evidence.
SL.9-10.5Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest.
R.11-12.7In literary texts, analyze multiple adaptations of a source text as presented in different formats (e.g., works of art, graphic novels, music, film, etc.), specifically evaluating how each version interprets the source. (RL) In informational texts, integrate and evaluate sources on the same topic or argument in order to address a question or solve a problem. (RI)
SL.11-12.3Understand and evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.

Science

HS-ESS3-1.Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
HS-ESS3-5.Analyze geoscience data and the results from global climate models to make an evidence-based forecast of the current rate of global or regional climate change and associated future impacts to Earth systems.

Social Studies

SS.Geog1.a.mUse paper and digital maps to ask and answer geographic questions (e.g., Where are there patterns? Why there? So what?). Analyze how various map projections distort shape, area, distance, and direction (e.g., Mercator, Robinson, Peters).

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What it is

Teaching tips

From the scientist review

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