What better way to make predictions about future weather and climate patterns than with actual climate data from the past? Young climatologists analyze data from 400,000 to 10,000 years ago to determine if climate has changed over time. They then graph data sets from temperature changes from 10,000 years ago to today in 5 and 500 year intervals.

Concepts

climate change, climates, weather changes, weather patterns, weather data, weather forecasting, graphs interpreting, data analysis, data

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Use the provided web resources to build prior knowledge about climate change
• Review the steps in the scientific method before teaching
• If time permits, have pupils explore the websites for an extended learning opportunity

Classroom Considerations

• Learners should have a basic understanding of how to read graphs that measure time and graphing decimals
• The third resource in a series of five about climate change that is also included in a collection of units on the topic

Pros

• The 19-page packet comes with detailed procedures, questions for discussing, graphical maps for learners to reference throughout the activity, worksheets, and their answer keys
• Connects the idea of making observations to taking actual weather data to draw conclusions about climate change that was explore in the previous lesson
• Offers opportunites for independent and collaborative skills practice

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.6-8.3 RST.6-8.7