Climate Time Machine
Grade Level: Middle School
Discipline: Earth Science, Climate Change
Standards:
MS-ESS3-5. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
MS-ESS3-4. Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth’s systems.
This activity is meant to take place during a Climate Change unit. The purpose is to give students four stark, visual examples of how the Earth has changed in relatively recent years (in fact, I find it helpful to have students calculate exactly how many years are represented in each time line).
The reflection questions are intended to help students process the images, and to have them think about what these changes have meant and will mean for people and animals. In the Bonus section, students look at more specific examples of real places that have been impacted by climate change. Students can pick a feature or location that has special relevance to them, or that they are just particularly interested in. Even just scrolling through the website to pick an example can impress upon students (and educators!) the widespread impact of climate change.
Learn more by downloading the activity plan above.
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