Climate Change Lesson 7 : Climate Models Making Global Predictions

Students explore the basis of models which project climate change.

Students will answer these essential questions:

How do scientists model the climate system?

What do the models predict?

Subject/Target Grade

Science and Social Studies/ Middle School and High School

Duration

Two or three 45-50 minute periods – Classroom period, Computer lab

Materials

From MEECS Climate Change Resource DVD

• Climate Model Transparencies (PowerPoint) (to make color transparencies)

per class 

• Modeling the Climate System (transparency master) 

• Evolution of Climate Models (transparency master) 

• Relationships in a Climate Model (answer key) 

• How Much and When (answer key) 

• Climate Scenarios (transparency master) 

per small group

• Computer

per student

• Relationships in a Climate Model (student activity) 

• A Very, Very Simple Climate Model (student activity) 

• How Climate Models are Developed and Tested (student resource) 

• How Much and When? (student activity)