Try to answer the driving question about the mysteries of the Great Lakes. Through the years there have been many sightings of mysterious creatures and structures. Learn about these mysteries.
Have you ever heard someone ask something like, “If the Earth is really experiencing Global Warming, then how can my town be experiencing record-breaking cold and snowfall this year?” This type of misunderstanding can arise because of people’s confusion about the difference between weather (short-term conditions) and climate (long-term patterns and trends). In this lesson, students will review the difference between weather and climate so that this type of misconception doesn’t interfere with their learning about climate change in subsequent lessons.
A warming climate alters patterns of air movement and precipitation, causing an increased frequency of some extreme weather events. In these activities, students will analyze data on the frequency of severe weather events, evaluate the impacts, and propose solutions to help mitigate them.
Increases in CO2 in the atmosphere and warming global temperatures are having a significant impact on the chemistry, temperature, volume, and circulation patterns in bodies of water. In this set of activities, students will investigate these changes and evaluate their potential impacts.
The geographic range of a plant or animal species is determined by its environmental requirements – the conditions it needs to survive and reproduce. These conditions include abiotic variables, such as temperature, precipitation, and nutrients, as well as the presence of certain other species with whom the species shares important interactions. Climate change can result in shifts in all these things and can lead to an area that was once ideal for a species to become uninhabitable for them. However, it can also create new areas that meet the species needs that didn’t used to before. These changes result in shifting species ranges over time. These shifts can have a variety of impacts on ecosystems. In these activities, students will investigate these potential impacts.
As the global temperature continues to rise due to climate change, the timing of life cycle events might by disrupted in ways that affect ecosystems. In these activities, students will analyze data on the timing of life cycle events and predict possible impacts.
Changes in climate can have direct and indirect on human health. In these activities, students will review the negative impacts of climate change on human health, interpret data that provides evidence of these impacts, and discuss how state and local agencies are acting to try to decrease these impacts.Links are provided to folders on Google Drive with resources for each disease category.
Climate prediction models help us to understand how the Earth's climate is changing over time and how it might change in the future. By predicting the potential impacts of climate change, we can prepare for and adapt to these changes. Accurate climate predictions can help inform policymakers about the potential consequences of their decisions and develop strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change. In these activities, students work with simple climate prediction models.
Climate prediction models help us to understand how the Earth's climate is changing over time and how it might change in the future. By predicting the potential impacts of climate change, we can prepare for and adapt to these changes. Accurate climate predictions can help inform policymakers about the potential consequences of their decisions and develop strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change. In these activities, students work with simple climate prediction models.
UMCDC 3rd Grade MiOpenBook SS Chapter 1 Section 5 "Why are the Great Lakes Great?" (20-21)
Should water from the Great Lakes be used in other places? The question of “who owns the water?” and “should it be used to help other places in the country that need it?” is one that our nation has been wrestling with for years. You will be responsible for writing an opinion essay on this very topic. You will be introduced to the topic of decreasing water levels in the Great Lakes by watching two videos and reading a short passage. Finally you will compose an opinion essay on the public issue: Should water be diverted from the Great Lakes to other parts of the United States that need water?