NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas. MS-ESS3.D – Global Climate Change. Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming). Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities, and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and activities.
Direct them to use the information to complete Part 2
NGSS Crosscutting Concepts. 1- Patterns. MS. Patterns in rates of change and other numerical relationships can provide information about natural systems.
they should conduct the activity described on the station card
NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas. MS-ESS2.D – Weather and Climate. Weather and climate are influenced by interactions involving sunlight, the ocean, the atmosphere, ice, landforms, and living things. These interactions vary with latitude, altitude, and local and regional geography, all of which can affect oceanic and atmospheric flow patterns.
they will visit several different websites, looking for the relationship between increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and average air temperatures
NGSS Crosscutting Concepts. 1 – Patterns. MS. Patterns in rates of change and other numerical relationships can provide information about natural systems. Graphs, charts, and images can be used to identify patterns in data.
What assumptions did you make to arrive at this prediction? What impact might this have on climatic conditions?
NGSS Crosscutting Concepts. 7 – Stability and Change. MS. Explanations of stability and change in natural or designed systems can be constructed by examining the changes over time and processes at different scales, including the atomic scale.
Climate is the characteristic set of atmospheric conditions of a place over a long period of time
NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas. MS-ESS2.D – Weather and Climate. Weather and climate are influenced by interactions involving sunlight, the ocean, the atmosphere, ice, landforms, and living things. These interactions vary with latitude, altitude, and local and regional geography, all of which can affect oceanic and atmospheric flow patterns.
Challenge students to examine the data they have collected and to construct an argument related to present day climate change
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices. 7 – Engaging in Argument from Evidence. MS. Construct an oral and written argument supported by empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support or refute an explanation or a model for a phenomenon or a solution to a problem.
Ask the students what they know about climate
NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas. MS-ESS2.D – Weather and Climate. Weather and climate are influenced by interactions involving sunlight, the ocean, the atmosphere, ice, landforms, and living things. These interactions vary with latitude, altitude, and local and regional geography, all of which can affect oceanic and atmospheric flow patterns.
Focus particularly on the What We Need to Know category
NGSS Performance Expectations. MS-ESS3-5 – Earth and Human Activity. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
ask groups to share at least one thing they discovered through their group’s journey
NGSS Crosscutting Concepts. 1 – Patterns. MS. Patterns may be used to identify cause and effect relationships.