For April, Sound Learning recognizes Earth Day by featuring the American RadioWorks documentaries "Reports from a Warming Planet" and "Climate of Uncertainty." No longer a question of "if" but of "when," the issue of global warming is now at the forefront of the global consciousness, these documentaries mirror the findings from the February 2007 report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

"Reports from a Warming Planet" takes your students to parts of the planet where global warming is already making changes to life and landscape, and demonstrates how climate change is no longer restricted to scientific modeling about the future. "Climate of Uncertainty" investigates changes in weather patterns such as the extra rain and snow over last few years in the northern half of the United States. Some scientists say the extra precipitation could disrupt a balance between fresh and salt water in the Atlantic Ocean, and might abruptly cripple a massive ocean current known as the Great Conveyor. If the Great Conveyer is disrupted, it could cause catastrophic climate changes including sudden cooling in some areas and devastating droughts elsewhere.

This month's Web site includes lesson templates and annotated transcripts to help you use the documentaries in a class discussion or research project on the effects of global warming. Students will practice critical listening and note taking skills as they evaluate the interviews and other evidence presented in both documentaries. As always, these templates correlate with the Minnesota Graduation Standards and may be customized to fit your content needs and schedule.