Teach "Into the Storm" by Yakos Spiliotopoulos—a story that hits hard on what happens when you stop trusting institutions to fix climate change. Your students will read about Anwar, an environmental activist planning a midnight coup because he believes democracy has failed. They'll argue whether he's a hero or a villain (spoiler: the story refuses to tell them). They'll research real climate impacts. They'll design their own climate policies.
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They'll decide where their activism starts and whether it ever needs to cross into dangerous territory. The complete Unit includes: STUDENT MATERIALS: Close-Reading Guide (3 levels, so students at different reading levels can all dig in) 10-question comprehension quiz with answers Discussion protocol—structured questions that actually lead somewhere 3 writing options: analytical essay, creative scene, personal reflection Research activity on one real climate impact (with 5 different extensions) Activist Pathway—helps students figure out how they actually want to take climate action (or if they do) TEACHER MATERIALS: Facilitation guide with three pacing options (1 week, 2 weeks, or 3 weeks—you choose) 6 assessment rubrics (essays, creative, discussion, research) with grade conversion Differentiation tools:
ELL scaffolds, extended time options, accessibility guides, advanced extensions Bonus: 22-slide introduction to Climate Fiction! WHAT YOU GET: 45 pages of print-ready (or use digitally) material No prep beyond reading the story yourself White-label materials—no branding on student pages Standards-aligned (CCSS reading, writing, speaking standards) Flexible: accelerate it if you're short on time, or go deep if you have three weeks GRADES: 9–12 (works best in 10–12) TIME:
2–10 days, depending on how much discussion and writing you assign HEADS UP: The story includes themes of authoritarianism, a childhood trauma flashback, and climate anxiety. The unit includes content notes and trauma-informed alternatives. This is the second story in the Climate Fiction Anthology suite. Use it standalone or pair with other stories for a thematic unit on climate, politics, and what we owe to the future. Teachers consistently say the discussion in this unit changes how students think about climate solutions—from despair to "what can I actually do?" That's the goal.
Ready to go. Print or upload to your LMS. Format: Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint (zipped)
Designed for grades 9–12.
Starmaker English and Journalism Tools 
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