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Let's create continuous conversations about climate change education: Spreading the Sediment of Science!
Prehistoric Climate Change and Why It Matters Today
Provided by: Smithsonian Institute |Published on: November 18, 2022
Lesson Plans Grades k-2, 3-5, 6-8
Synopsis
- Through this lesson and experiment, students make observations and draw conclusions about what the climate was like 55 million years ago.
- Students are introduced to combining math, science, and paleontology to better understand the history of the Earth and how it has changed over time.
Subjects: Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Mathematics
Authors: Smithsonian Learning Lab
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This is a great way to introduce students to fieldwork, data collection, and analysis.
- The lesson plan includes in-depth background information on prehistoric climates, the greenhouse effect, fossil records, an answer key, and a step-by-step guide to the exercise.
Additional Prerequisites
- It is easiest to view the materials by downloading the PDF.
- Although not specified in the lesson plan, playing the videos may be best to provide students with context before the activity.
- Unfortunately, the link to the interactive activity does not work, but it is not necessary for the activity.
Differentiation
- Teachers can use this lesson as an opportunity to introduce climate models.
- The background information available in the lesson plan can be given to students for more advanced classes as extra reading.
- This other activity can be used to learn more about analyzing past climates through paleontology, and this similar activity can be used to learn about other ways of looking at past climates.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.
