Active banners: 1 Visible banners: 1
Banner ID: 4 Has content: true
Let's create continuous conversations about climate change education: Spreading the Sediment of Science!
Changes Ahoof: Could Climate Change Affect Arctic Caribou?
Provided by: CLEAN |Published on: April 27, 2021
Lesson Plans Grades 6-8
Synopsis
- In this lesson, students explore how climate change is impacting populations of caribou in the Arctic.
- Students will run a computer model, analyze the results, engage in a discussion, and create a board game to demonstrate their learning.
Subjects: Biology, Mathematics, Computer Science
Authors: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Region: Polar Regions
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The student activity sheet is well-constructed and easy to use.
- The educator references show a sample data output as well as the results of all nine variable combinations.
- Students create a board game to share with their classmates!
Additional Prerequisites
- Be sure to review the background information with students so they understand how the two variables in the simulation affect caribou populations.
- Students will need to know how to do a percent increase/decrease calculation.
Differentiation
- You can choose whether or not to have students create board games. Perhaps you can offer it as an extension or extra credit assignment.
- It may be best to group students of varying abilities while they explore the computer model.
- Related resources include this article from NOAA on shifting migratory patterns, this interactive map showing migratory patterns, and this StC Lesson Plan called Climate Confusion.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
CLEAN
The CLEAN Network is a professionally diverse community of over 630 members committed to improving climate and energy literacy locally, regionally, nationally, and globally in order to enable responsible decisions and actions. The CLEAN Network has been a dynamic group since 2008 and is now led by the CLEAN Leadership Board established in 2016.
All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.
