Unveiling Climate Change: A Data-Driven Exploration
A new collection to explore our planet’s warming oceans, intensifying storms, and rising air temperatures, as well as its greenhouse gas emissions and climate solutions. This plan is taken from: The New York Times.
Target Audience: This lesson plan is designed for middle school and high school students (adaptable for different age groups) with varying prior knowledge of climate change.
Standards Science:
- NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards):
- Middle School: MS-ESS3-5 Explain major global changes over long time periods (e.g., ice ages, sea level rise, and volcanic eruptions) and the evidence that supports these explanations.
- High School: HS-ESS3-5 Analyze data to determine the rate at which greenhouse gas emissions are increasing in the atmosphere and the impact of these emissions on Earth’s climate.
Learning Objectives:
- Students will analyze visual data on climate change.
- They will critically evaluate information from news articles and graphs.
- They will explore data collection methods and their limitations.
- Students will engage in discussions about the effectiveness of data visualization and its impact on public understanding.
- They will consider personal connections to climate change and potential solutions.
1. Introduction
- Briefly introduce the concept of climate change and its potential impacts.
- Explain the importance of data and visual representations in understanding complex issues.
- Divide students into pairs or small groups (optional: whole class discussion for younger students).
2. Notice & Wonder
- Look at the graphs below and also the graphs found on the New York Times webpage.
- Prompt them with questions like:
- “What patterns or trends do you see in the data?”
- “What questions do you have about the information presented?”
- “How might this data be relevant to your life or community?”
- Encourage students to discuss their observations and questions within their groups.
- Facilitate a whole-class discussion, highlighting key themes and unanswered questions.
3. Read & React
- Each group selects a graph
- Students analyze the graph
- Guide them with questions like:
- “Do the graphs effectively support the article’s message? Why or why not?”
- “What additional information do you wish the graph had provided?”
- Encourage group discussions and note-taking.
5. Rank & Reflect
- As a class, revisit the selection of graphs.
- Ask students to discuss and rank the graphs based on their effectiveness in communicating climate change information to the public.
- Encourage them to consider factors like clarity, accuracy, memorability, and potential emotional impact.
- Facilitate a discussion about different perspectives and encourage respectful debate.
6. Action & Connection
- Briefly discuss the real-world implications of climate change and its potential impact on individuals and communities.
- Brainstorm individual and collective actions students can take to address climate change (e.g., reducing energy consumption, advocating for sustainability initiatives).
- Reflect on the value of critical analysis, data literacy, and informed action in tackling complex issues like climate change.
Essay questions
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Analyze the effectiveness of data visualization in communicating complex environmental issues like climate change. Use specific examples from the graphs you explored in the lesson plan to support your argument. Consider factors such as clarity, accuracy, emotional impact, and potential biases.
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Imagine you are a journalist tasked with writing an article about climate change for a general audience. Discuss the challenges of balancing scientific accuracy with accessibility and engagement. Choose one of the graphs you studied and explain how you would adapt it for your target audience while maintaining its core message.
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Reflect on the role of individual action in addressing global challenges like climate change. How can critical thinking, data literacy, and informed decision-making empower individuals to contribute to positive change? Draw on your learning experiences in this lesson plan and your own personal values to formulate a response.