No one knows what the future will bring, but it's likely to be warmer than before. Pupils first learn about the NASA GISS ModelE2, a global climate model, and about representative concentration pathways that estimate the global output of greenhouse gases. They download data from the climate model and use a computer program to analyze how temperature changes will affect the climate of New York City by the year 2100. In groups, they then follow the same procedure for a different city and present their findings to the class.

Concepts

climate change, temperature, greenhouse gases, making predictions

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Team up with an English teacher, a math teacher, and/or a computer teacher to conduct a cross-curricular unit
  

Classroom Considerations

• Scholars should be familiar with climate change and Earth's energy budget
• Instructors may want to try out the RStudio program before using it with the class
  

Pros

• Provides student worksheets and separate answer keys
  
• Use of real-world data makes the topic relevant
  

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.9-10.2 RST.9-10.7