Climate Basics and IL
Provided by: University of Illinois Extension|Published on: May 6, 2025|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: University of Illinois Extension
Location: North America > United States > Illinois
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This website from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign provides an introduction to climate change and the vocabulary utilized when discussing climate change.
- Students will understand precipitation changes in Illinois and the unknowns for future climate change.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This is a great starting point to introduce the topic of climate change due to the extensive list of vocabulary provided on this website.
- Students will be able to explore what the future may hold for future generations if solutions to climate change are not addressed.
Prerequisites
- Students should have their own device to explore this website.
- Students should be familiar with weather patterns in their climate zone and how they have changed over time.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Prior to using this article, do a KWL chart with the students to see what they already know about climate change, what they want to learn, and then revisit it after exploring the website.
- While learning the vocabulary, have students fill in a graphic organizer to recall key vocabulary that they will see in future lessons.
- This website can be used to introduce climate change and then go into greenhouse gases with the embedded link, which provides an informational video on greenhouse gases.
- Students in Illinois can extend on the Illinois climate data overview from this website by looking at local historical data for nighttime and daytime high and low temperatures.
This resource provides clarity on the science of climate change and the key drivers. It also has students learn about key climate change terminologies and ways they can talk about climate change and solutions to diverse audiences to accelerate climate action. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
