Climate Change Unit

In this engaging climate change unit, students will investigate and apply knowledge of the greenhouse effect, causes and effects of climate change, and more. They will learn how and why climate change is occurring, as well as examine their carbon footprints and feedback systems that are causing the climate to change on Earth.

This comprehensive high school climate change unit is designed to engage students in understanding both natural and anthropogenic factors that influence Earth’s climate. Using the 5E instructional model, this unit covers essential topics such as the greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases, ocean acidification, the albedo effect, and other critical climate change concepts.

By the end of this unit, students will have a well-rounded understanding of climate change and its effects, empowering them to think critically about this pressing global issue.

 

CLIMATE CHANGE UNIT TOPICS:

• Greenhouse Gases
• Greenhouse Effect
• Climate Change
• Global Warming
• Natural Causes of Climate Change
• Anthropogenic Causes Climate Change
• Effects of Climate Change
• Carbon Sinks
• Ocean Acidification
• Sea-Level Rise
• Albedo Effect
• Carbon Footprint
• Analyzing and Graphing Climate Data
• CER and Climate Change
• Human Impact on the Environment
• Weather versus Climate

 

This climate change unit plan follows the 5E instructional method: Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration, and Evaluation, and facilitates student-led learning with minimal prep time. This unit plan provides you with all the tools you need to teach these topics. Learn more about using the 5E method in my blog here !

 

No planning and low-prep!

 

INCLUDED CLIMATE CHANGE RESOURCES:

• FREE Climate Change Unit Plan
Big Ideas, Standards, Vocabulary, Objectives, Essential Questions, Enduring Understandings, Pacing Guide, Unit Plan, Editable Templates, and More! Impress your administration and save time with this pre-made comprehensive evolution unit plan!

 

ENGAGE

• Climate Change Pretest: Activate prior knowledge and get an idea where your kids are in their grasp of plate tectonics.

• Plate Tectonics KWL and Video Activity: Learn what your students know and pique their interests in learning about the fascinating world of plate tectonics. The link to the free YouTube video is in the unit plan.

 

EXPLORE

• Climate Change Stations Lab: Students complete ten low-prep and fun stations to explore, learn, and apply new knowledge of climate change and the greenhouse effect.

• Climate Change Webquest: Students will use engaging online resources to explore, learn, and apply information on greenhouse gases, causes and effects of climate change, and more. A best-seller!

 

EXPLAIN

• Climate Change Presentation, Notes, Questions, and Kahoot: Clear up misconceptions and deepen your students’ understanding of climate change, including the albedo effect, ocean acidification, and more.

 

ELABORATE

• Climate Change Reading, CER, and Graphing Lab: Students will read, graph, analyze, draw conclusions, and write about climate change, the greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases, and human impact on the environment.

 

EVALUATE

• Climate Change Assessment Bank and Premade Assessment: Choose from a 70 question question bank or use the already made 30-question Plate Tectonics Summative Assessment.

 

BONUS SUB PLANS OR REMEDIATION

• Climate Change Color by Number: This fun coloring and questions activity will come in handy for a sub day, remediation, or extra practice for your students!

 

 

NGSS STANDARDS:

• HS-ESS2-2: Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth Systems
• HS-ESS2-4: Use a model to describe how variations in the flow of energy into and out of Earth’s systems result in changes in climate.
• HS-ESS3-1: Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
• HSS-ESS3-4: Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
• HS-ESS3-5: Analyze geoscience data and the results from global climate models to make an evidence-based forecast of the current rate of global or regional climate change and associated future impacts to Earth’s systems.
• HS-ESS3-6: Use computational representation to illustrate the relationships among Earth systems and how these relationships are being modified due to human activity.
• HS-LS2-7: Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.

 

 

MORE GREAT CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIVITIES

 

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