Lesson Plan: Teaching Polynomial Differentiation using Global Average Temperature Data

As a high school or undergraduate Mathematics teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to help you in teaching introductory differential calculus and specifically polynomial differentiation.

The derivative at different points of a differentiable function (Image: Wikipedia)

This lesson plan will allow you to teach introductory derivatives and differentiation. The lesson plan includes a hands-on computer-based classroom activity to be conducted on a dataset of global annual mean surface air temperatures from 1880 to 2018. This activity includes a set of inquiry-based questions that will enable your students to apply their understanding of function composition and polynomial differentiation and to solve tangent line problems.

Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a ore topic in Mathematics.

Questions

Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:

  1. What are derivatives and tangent line equations?
  2. Using an example, describe polynomial differentiation.
  3. Is the global annual mean surface temperature increasing since 1950? Since 1880?
  4. What is the rate of change of global average temperatures?
  5. Predict the global average temperatures for 2030, 2050, and 2100.
  6. What is the latest rate of change of global average temperatures according to the last recorded data point (2018)?

About Lesson Plan

Grade Level High school
Discipline Mathematics
Topic(s) in Discipline Derivatives, Tangent Lines, Differentiation

Differentiation Rules, Function Composition

Polynomial Differentiation

Climate Topic Climate and the Atmosphere

Climate Variability Record

Location Global
Language(s) English
Access Online, Offline
Approximate
Time Required
50-60 min

Contents

Teaching Module

(30 min)

A teaching module to explain the basics of derivatives, derivative rules, and differentiation.

Go to the Resource

Classroom/ Laboratory activity

(20 min)

A classroom activity to apply understanding of derivatives and polynomial differentiation using a dataset of Global Average Temperatures.

Go to the Activity

Visualizations

(10 min)

A set of visualizations using similar datasets to better understand the changes in global surface temperatures in recent times.

These can be accessed at:

Visualization 1

Visualization 2

Visualization 3

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.

Step 1: Topic introduction and discussion 

  1. Use the teaching module, ‘Differentiation: definition and basic derivative rules’ by Khan Academy, to introduce the concept of derivatives and differentiation.
  2. Navigate to the sub-sections within the module to explain derivative rules, the power rule, and how to differentiate polynomials.
  3. Use the in-built practice exercises and quizzes to evaluate your students’ understanding of the topics.

Go to the Resource

 

Step2 2: Extend understanding

  1. Use the classroom activity, ‘Global Average Temperature’ from Sustainability Math by Thomas J. Pfaff, Professor of Mathematics, Ithaca College, USA, to enable your students to apply their understanding of derivatives and polynomial differentiation using a dataset from NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS).
  2. This classroom activity includes a dataset of the global annual mean surface air temperature linked from NASA’s observations from 1950 to 2018. It also includes data from 1880 to 2018.
  3. This data is provided in an Excel spreadsheet.
  4. The classroom activity also includes a Word document that contains directions on how to use different mathematical methods on the data provided.
  5. It further includes questions that you may wish to use in your classroom to explain mathematical functions and methods and to initiate a discussion on the increase in global annual mean surface temperature due to anthropogenically forced global warming.
  6. Direct your students to download the Excel file (with dataset) and the Word document (with directions to use the dataset and a set of questions to analyze the dataset).
  7. Proceed with the classroom activity and encourage your students to answer the questions by applying their understanding of function composition, tangent line equation, and polynomial differentiation.

Go to the Resource

 

Step 3: Discuss further

Use the visualizations, ‘Global Temperature’ by NASA/GISS, ‘Temperature Change; 1880-2019’ by Antti Lipponen using NASA GISTEMP data, and ‘Simulated global temperature change’ by US Geological Survey (USGS) to encourage discussion amongst your students about the real and simulated increase of global surface air temperatures from the years 1880-2020 and 1850-2100 respectively. Discuss how these changes could be affecting Earth’s climate in recent times.

These can be accessed at:

Visualization 1

Visualization 2

Visualization 3

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