As a High School Biological Sciences or Environmental Sciences or Health Sciences teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to teach about circadian rhythms and the factors involved in maintaining the circadian rhythm in all living organisms. This lesson plan will discuss the impact of global warming on sleep in humans, which is as an integral part of their circadian rhythm.
This lesson plan will teach students about circadian rhythms and how they are important for the health and well-being of all living beings. Global warming is potentially causing a change in day and nighttime temperatures. This lesson plan includes resources to show how sleep is affected by higher nighttime temperatures and therefore, could lead to adverse impacts on human health due to a disruption in the circadian rhythm.
Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Biological Sciences or Environmental Sciences or Health Sciences.
The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:
Teacher-contributed lesson plan by Alaaeldin Ahmed Hamza, National Organization of Drug Control and Research, Egypt
Want to know more about how to contribute? Contact us.
| Grade Level | High School |
| Discipline | Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Human Health, Circadian Rhythm, Biological Rhythms, Biological Clock, Photosensitive Ganglion Cells, Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN), Sleep Disruption, Sleep Deprivation, Light Sensitivity, Body temperature |
| Climate Topic | Climate and Health |
| Location | Global, United States |
| Language(s) | English, Spanish |
| Access | Online / offline |
| Approximate Time Required | 80 minutes |
| Share | |
| Resource Download |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
Video micro-lecture (~2.5 min)
Use the video micro-lecture, ‘What Makes You Tick: Circadian Rhythms’ by Oxford Sparks, Oxford University, to introduce the topic of circadian
rhythms. Use this tool to explain why circadian rhythms are important for all livings beings. Describe the role of photosensitive ganglion cells in
the eye and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus of the brain, in managing the circadian rhythm. Explain that maintenance of
the circadian rhythm in individuals depends on environmental cues such as light and that any disruptions can be detrimental to their health.
Reading (15 min)
Use this factsheet, ‘Circadian Rhythms’ by National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) to further your students’ understanding of
circadian rhythms. This tool is also available in Spanish. Use the text to differentiate between circadian rhythms and biological clocks. Define
what is the master clock of the body and explain how it is responsible for keeping the circadian rhythm in sync with body physiology and
behavior. Explain that circadian rhythms are influenced by both natural (genetic) and environmental cues such as daylight and in turn are
responsible for body function and health. Use the text to explain how the body’s master clock is responsible for establishing sleep patterns in
individuals. Finally, discuss how disruptions in the circadian rhythm can lead to health problems.
Video and Associated Reading (~5-7 min)
Use the video and associated report, ‘Scientists warn of sleepless nights in a warming world’ by Ryan Cross, published in Science, to describe the
effect of temperature on sleep cycles in individuals in the United States. Use the tools to describe the findings of a study that reports that global
warming and the accompanying higher nighttime temperatures have resulted in insufficient sleep and sleep disruptions in individuals in the
United States. Discuss the findings that the groups of poor and elderly individuals were more severely affected by this. Further, discuss how the
results of the study suggest that with the current and predicted rate of global warming, more sleep cycle disruptions could happen, leading to
lowered productivity and health problems in a larger proportion of the population.
Classroom/Laboratory Activity (1-2 days)
Use the set of activities, ‘Biological Rhythms’ by University of Washington, to enable students to explore their own biological rhythms in an
engaging manner. In the context of this lesson plan, direct your students to follow the instructions for ‘Experiment 1: The Ups and Downs of
Body Temperature’ to investigate the body temperature rhythm. Ask your students to do an additional activity from the ‘reaction time’ set of
experiments for the same time-points. Use the data collected to correlate the body temperature noted at specific time-points and the
corresponding reaction times. Use the correlation, if any, to discuss how warmer temperatures due to global warming could in turn affect body
temperature related reaction times and therefore, biological rhythms in individuals.
Use the tools and the concepts learned so far to discuss and determine answers to the following questions:
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Video | A video interview, ‘Why is the circadian clock important? 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine’ by Nobel Committee member Anna Wedell
to explain the importance of the elucidation of the mechanisms of the circadian clock by the Nobel Prize Winners in 2017.
This can be accessed here. |
| 2 | Audio Podcast | An audio podcast, ‘Circadian Rhythm and Your Health’ by Helmut Zarbl, PhD, National Institute of Environmental Health (NIEHS), to explain the
importance of circadian rhythm for human health.
This can be accessed here . |
| 3 | Reading | A reading that can be used to help students with conducting a survey, data collection and analysis to look for the economic impact on sericulture Industry due to climate change. This can be developed based on the article by S Mubin, M Ahmed, G Mubin, MA Majeed, Planning and Development Department PEF, Govt of Punjab and Lahore Leads University, Lahore.
This can be accessed here. |
| 1 | Video micro-lecture; ‘What Makes You Tick: Circadian Rhythms’ | By Oxford Sparks, Oxford University. |
| 2 | Reading; ‘Circadian Rhythms’ | By National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). |
| 3 | Video and Associated Reading; ‘Scientists warn of sleepless nights in a warming world’ | By Ryan Cross, published in Science. |
| 4 | Classroom Activity; ‘Biological Rhythms’ | By University of Washington |
| 5 | Additional Resources | Nobel Prize YouTube Channel.National Institute of Environmental Health (NIEHS). Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University. |
| Grade Level | High School |
| Discipline | Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Health Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Circadian Rhythm, Biological Rhythms, Biological Clock, Photosensitive Ganglion Cells, Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN), Sleep Disruption, Sleep Deprivation, Light Sensitivity, Body temperature |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Anthroposphere |
| Location | Global, USA |
| Language(s) | English / Spanish |
| Access | Online / offline |
| Approximate Time Required | 30-40 min + 1-2 days |
| Share | |
| Resource Download |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
Video micro-lecture (~2.5 min)
Use the video micro-lecture, ‘What Makes You Tick: Circadian Rhythms’ by Oxford Sparks, Oxford University, to introduce the topic of circadian rhythms. Use this tool to explain why circadian rhythms are important for all livings beings. Describe the role of photosensitive ganglion cells in the eye and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus of the brain, in managing the circadian rhythm. Explain that maintenance of the circadian rhythm in individuals depends on environmental cues such as light and that any disruptions can be detrimental to their health.
Reading (15 min)
Use this factsheet, ‘Circadian Rhythms’ by National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) to further your students’ understanding of circadian rhythms. This tool is also available in Spanish. Use the text to differentiate between circadian rhythms and biological clocks. Define what is the master clock of the body and explain how it is responsible for keeping the circadian rhythm in sync with body physiology and behavior. Explain that circadian rhythms are influenced by both natural (genetic) and environmental cues such as daylight and in turn are responsible for body function and health. Use the text to explain how the body’s master clock is responsible for establishing sleep patterns in individuals. Finally, discuss how disruptions in the circadian rhythm can lead to health problems.
Video and Associated Reading (~5-7 min)
Use the video and associated report, ‘Scientists warn of sleepless nights in a warming world’ by Ryan Cross, published in Science, to describe the effect of temperature on sleep cycles in individuals in the United States. Use the tools to describe the findings of a study that reports that global warming and the accompanying higher nighttime temperatures have resulted in insufficient sleep and sleep disruptions in individuals in the United States. Discuss the findings that the groups of poor and elderly individuals were more severely affected by this. Further, discuss how the results of the study suggest that with the current and predicted rate of global warming, more sleep cycle disruptions could happen, leading to lowered productivity and health problems in a larger proportion of the population.
Classroom/Laboratory Activity (1-2 days)
Use the set of activities, ‘Biological Rhythms’ by University of Washington, to enable students to explore their own biological rhythms in an engaging manner. In the context of this lesson plan, direct your students to follow the instructions for ‘Experiment 1: The Ups and Downs of Body Temperature’ to investigate the body temperature rhythm. Ask your students to do an additional activity from the ‘reaction time’ set of experiments for the same time-points. Use the data collected to correlate the body temperature noted at specific time-points and the corresponding reaction times. Use the correlation, if any, to discuss how warmer temperatures due to global warming could in turn affect body temperature related reaction times and therefore, biological rhythms in individuals.
Use the tools and the concepts learned so far to discuss and determine answers to the following questions:
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Video | A video interview, ‘Why is the circadian clock important? 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine’ by Nobel Committee member Anna Wedell
to explain the importance of the elucidation of the mechanisms of the circadian clock by the Nobel Prize Winners in 2017.
This can be accessed here. |
| 2 | Audio Podcast | An audio podcast, ‘Circadian Rhythm and Your Health’ by Helmut Zarbl, PhD, National Institute of Environmental Health (NIEHS), to explain the
importance of circadian rhythm for human health.
This can be accessed here . |
| 3 | Reading | A reading that can be used to help students with conducting a survey, data collection and analysis to look for the economic impact on sericulture Industry due to climate change. This can be developed based on the article by S Mubin, M Ahmed, G Mubin, MA Majeed, Planning and Development Department PEF, Govt of Punjab and Lahore Leads University, Lahore.
This can be accessed here. |
| 1 | Video micro-lecture; ‘What Makes You Tick: Circadian Rhythms’ | By Oxford Sparks, Oxford University. |
| 2 | Reading; ‘Circadian Rhythms’ | By National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). |
| 3 | Video and Associated Reading; ‘Scientists warn of sleepless nights in a warming world’ | By Ryan Cross, published in Science. |
| 4 | Classroom Activity; ‘Biological Rhythms’ | By University of Washington |
| 5 | Additional Resources | Nobel Prize YouTube Channel.National Institute of Environmental Health (NIEHS). Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University. |
