Rising Tides: Protect Your Home from the Waves
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Provided by: National Center for Science Education|Published on: June 18, 2026
Activity - ClassroomScientist Reviewed
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Scientist Reviewed 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 activity guide challenges students to design and test adaptations that protect model homes from flooding caused by sea level rise and storm surge.
- Using a sand-and-water tray and reusable building materials, students test and iterate on their designs and work within added constraints such as visibility, accessibility, and a budget.
- The resource includes an activity guide, a training video, and a folder with supplemental materials.
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering
Authors: National Center for Science Education
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Preparation:
- Gather all necessary materials, including:
- Two aluminum trays (at least 10-inch square) per set-up
- 500 ml water bottle
- Straight pins
- Sand
- Tools (pick set, mini tools)
- Beads
- Toothpicks
- Popsicle sticks
- Pipe cleaners
- Sponges
- Set aside a bucket or identify a nearby sink for water drainage.
- Print out or share posters with students about ocean level rise, the price list/challenges, and the engineering design process.
- Watch the linked activity training video to visualize what the activity will look like before facilitating this activity.
Classroom Implementation:
- Divide students into groups of 3-4 to work together using one set-up.
- Designate a volunteer per group who can help clean up and ensure materials are handled safely.
- Use the NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer referenced in the guide to localize the discussion about sea level rise to your context.
Broken Links:
- Some links in the activity training guide are broken but can be skipped without impacting comprehension.
This activity tasks students with designing solutions to protect homes from coastal flooding due to climate change. Throughout, focus is placed on the engineering design process and how climate change impacts coastal flooding. Numerous external resources are linked, including the powerful NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer, though a couple of links are broken. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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About the Partner Provider
National Center for Science Education
NCSE works with teachers, parents, scientists, and concerned citizens at the local, state, and national levels to ensure that topics like climate change, evolution, and the nature of science are taught accurately, honestly, and confidently.
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 →
