Climate Change Education Across the Curricula, Across the Globe

Climate Change Education Across the Curricula

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As an Undergraduate Biological Sciences teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to enable students to develop a comprehensive understanding about the structure and function of an ecosystem, with a focus on hydrological ecosystem, and biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem. You can do this through a study of ponds and pond ecosystems and its comparison with freshwater and saline water ecosystems.

In this lesson plan, students will learn that increasing temperatures may alter the patterns of several ecological roles performed by ponds such as – water storage, habitats for plants and animals, water quality (filtration), groundwater recharge, and shifts in the cycling of nutrients (biogeochemical cycles). They will learn about the correlation between climate change and the reduction of biodiversity in pond ecosystems, through an activity that focuses on the dissolution of carbon dioxide and its impacts. 

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.

Teacher-contributed lesson plan by Dr. Pamil Tayal (Assistant Professor, Department of  Botany, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi), Dr. Tabassum Afshan (Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi), and Dr. Ranjana Singh (Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Government Model Degree College, Arniya, Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh)

Want to know more about how to contribute? Contact us.

Questions

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

  1. What is an Ecosystem? Give physiognomic characteristics of different hydrological ecosystems.
  2. Explain various factors affecting the productivity and sustainability of freshwater ecosystems? 
  3. What are the direct and indirect impacts of climate change on pond ecosystems? 
  4. Discuss some of the threats to freshwater ecosystems.

About Lesson Plan

Grade Level High school, Undergraduate
Discipline Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline Ecology, Biodiversity, Ecosystems, Hydrological Ecosystems, Freshwater Ecosystems, Pond Ecosystems, Biotic, Abiotic, CO2 dissolution
Climate Topic Climate Change and the Biosphere;

Climate Change and the Hydrosphere;

Climate Change and Food Security 
Location Global
Language(s) English
Access Online
Approximate
Time Required		 75-85 min

Contents

Video/ Micro lecture
(31 min)		 A video to introduce different types of ecosystems, their components, food chain, food web, ecological pyramids, and energy flow in the ecosystem.
This can be accessed here. 
Video/ Micro lecture
(11 min)		 A micro lecture to understand the freshwater ecosystem, zonation in a pond ecosystem, and adaptation in aquatic plants towards salinity.
This can be accessed here.
Reading
(20 min)		 A reading to study the impact of climate change on the hydrological cycles, pond ecosystem, and its biodiversity.
This can be accessed here. 
Classroom/Laboratory Activity
(5 min)		 A classroom/laboratory activity to determine the relationship between acidity and pond ecosystem through the study of carbon dioxide dissolution. This can be accessed here.
Field Activity
(Nature Walk) (10-20 min)		 A classroom/laboratory activity to explain the theoretical aspects taught in the classroom by the recreation of a pond ecosystem for the conservation of aquatic organisms.

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.

1 Introduce the topic by playing a video lecture This introduction video titled “Ecosystem | What is an Ecosystem? | Different Types of Ecosystems” briefly defines ecosystems, its types and explains different biotic (living) and abiotic (non- living) components interaction. It further explains different types of ecosystems present on the earth. Use this lecture to help students to understand the dynamics of an ecosystem that includes statistics of its productivity, rate of decomposition and energy flow at various trophic levels in food chains/ food webs flourishing in the ecosystem. The lecture further describes how a change in temperature will often affect the type of plants found and impact its population dynamics. 

This can be accessed here
2 Discuss the topic further by playing a video micro-lecture This video lecture titled; “Freshwater Ecosystem” presented by Mexus Education explains freshwater ecosystems through a simple case study of a pond ecosystem. The lecture explains the different types of hydrophytic plants such as submerged, rooted–submerged, and free floating, that can be found in different zones of a pond ecosystem. It also describes the physiological and biochemical adaptations by the freshwater organisms with changing salinity. It also mentions how changes in pH of water can impact fish populations in freshwater ecosystems.

This can be accessed here. 
3 Demonstrate how it related to Climate Change through this Reading  A reading titled ‘Climate change and freshwater ecosystems: Impacts across multiple levels of organization’ by Guy Woodward, Daniel M. Perkins and Lee E. Brown (2010), The Royal Society Publishing, discusses the effects of climate change on freshwater ecosystem services. This reading states how the different components of climate change affects complex trophic structures and may interact with other stress factors, such as salinity and dissolved carbon dioxide, to impact the functional behavior of the ecosystem. Through this reading, students will understand the impact of global warming on freshwater ecosystem biota, that potentially changes their behavior, thermoregulation and migration.

This can be accessed here. 
4 Laboratory Activity: To determine the free CO2 in the given water samples by titration method A laboratory activity titled, “Free CO2 Estimation” that shows how aquatic plants depend on CO2 for various metabolic activities for growth and development. This activity exhibits how CO2 concentration above 1000-1300 ppm can induce stress in aquatic plants. As a result, acidic pH affects photosynthetic rate, transpiration efficiency and various physiological activities of aquatic plants. This laboratory activity will help students to carry out comparative analysis of different water samples. They will understand the differences in 1. the quality (smell of water sample, type of hydrophytes present); 2. Determine the pH; and 3. Presence of CO2 in water samples which will help them assess the biological oxygen demand (BOD). 

This can be accessed here. 
5 Field Activity (optional) To better understand the structure and functioning of the pond ecosystem, students can construct an artificial or man-made pond to help drain fields during rain, recycle nutrients, and reduce the amount of nitrates and phosphates. Students would be able to critically analyze the pond ecology, and how alterations due to human activities impacts the aquatic ecosystem. This can be used to come up with conservation strategies to maintain ecological balance and prevent acidification of the pond.

As an Undergraduate Geography and Environmental Sciences teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to enable students to develop an understanding of deserts and desertification. Climate change and desertification are inextricably linked. Desertification contributes to climate change by removing fertile soil and plants. Soils store significant amounts of carbon, some of which may be released into the atmosphere due to desertification, having a significant impact on the global climate system

Climate change's effects on desertification are complex, and current research on the subject is evolving. On the one hand, some dryland regions will receive less rainfall, while temperature increases may deplete soil moisture, impairing plant growth. On the other hand, if sufficient water and soil nutrients are available, a rise in CO2 in the atmosphere can promote plant growth. This lesson plan discusses climate change's effect on desertification and sustainable land approaches that can be adopted to mitigate the same.
Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Geography and Environmental Sciences.

Teacher-contributed lesson plan by Dr. Kavita Singh (Mata Sundri College for Women, University of Delhi), Dr. Abhishek Chandra (Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi), and Dr. Robin (Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi).

Want to know more about how to contribute? Contact us.

Questions

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

  1. What is desertification?
  2. How does climate change cause desertification?
  3. How can climate change-induced desertification be avoided, reduced, or reversed?
  4. How can sustainable land management practices play a vital role in mitigating desertification due to climate change?

About Lesson Plan

Grade Level High school, Undergraduate
Discipline Geography, Environmental Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline Deserts, Ecosystems, Desert Ecosystems, Land Use Change, Desertification
Climate Topic Climate and the Lithosphere; Climate Mitigation and Adaptation
Location Global
Language(s) English
Access Online
Approximate
Time Required		 40 – 45 min

Contents

Video Micro-Lectures (3 min) A lecture video to introduce how human activities lead to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, increase earth's temperature, and change the world around us.
This can be accessed here.
Reading An introductory reading on desertification - its definition, its process, impacts, future predictions, response and case studies.
This can be accessed here.
Video/ Micro lecture (8 min) A video focusing on desertification in sub-Saharan Africa, its implication on food security and human migration, and a case study on possible countermeasures. 
This can be accessed here.
Video/ Micro lecture (4 min) A case study on Bangladesh’s struggle with natural resource depletion, land degradation, and sustainable land management.

This can be accessed here.

 

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.

1 Introduce climate change by playing a video micro-lecture This introductory video titled “Causes and Effects of Climate Change” by National Geographic Channel, can be used to understand how human activities drive up the earth’s temperature and change the world around us. It also briefly explains how rapid increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has warmed the planet at an alarming rate. It emphasizes how climate change can directly affect people’s health and food security.

This can be accessed here.
2 Introduce the topic and demonstrate how it is related to Climate Change through this Reading  This reading titled “Desertification,” Chapter 3 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report from 2018, can be used to introduce and explain desertification. It illustrates the processes and causes of desertification in the context of climate change, while going into details of anthropogenic factors. This report also provides valuable insight into the knowledge gaps and significant uncertainties in this field.

This can be accessed here.
3 Explain impacts of and mitigation practices through this video case study This video titled, “The Great Green Wall of Africa: Will it help fight climate change?” by BBC Newsnight explains the impacts of desertification in sub-Saharan Africa and through the example of the ‘Great Green Wall of Africa’ project introduces ways to mitigate them.

This can be accessed here.
4 Explain causes of and adaptation practices through another video case study This video titled, “Sustainable Land Management in Bangladesh” by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, explains how the rising population places severe strain on natural resources, leading to an increase in degraded areas. Additionally, it provides insight into how to halt and reverse these trends through sustainable land management.

This can be accessed here.

As an Undergraduate teacher of Biological Sciences or Agricultural Sciences, you can use this set of computer-based tools to teach about mulberry silkworm rearing, silk production, and the economic impact of climate change on the sericulture industry. This lesson plan will allow you to teach about the life cycle of the mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori and their artificial rearing for commercial silk production and its management.

This Lesson Plan would further help in better learning and understanding the process of silk production and the impact of climate change (such as temperature changes due to global warming, relative humidity fluctuations, CO₂ levels and other environmental changes) on silk productivity.  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 and Agricultural Sciences.

Teacher-contributed lesson plan by Dr. Rita Rath (Dyal Singh College), Dr. Neeraja Sood (Dyal Singh College), and Dr. Nisha Vashishta (Miranda House).

Want to know more about how to contribute? Contact us.

Questions

Use this Lesson Plan to help the students to understand and find answers to:

  1. Discuss the economic importance of Bombyx mori ?
  2. What is the role of temperature, humidity, photoperiod and other climatic factors on the life cycle of silk worm and silk production?
  3. What are the steps involved in the production of silk?
  4. What are the challenges of silkworm rearing for the sericulture industry in relation to climate change?

About Lesson Plan

Grade Level Undergraduate
Discipline Biological Sciences, Agricultural Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline Life Cycle, Life Cycle of Silkworm, Sericulture,
Mulberry Silkworm, Bombyx mori
Climate Topic Climate and Biosphere, Climate and Agriculture
Location Global
Language(s) English
Access Online
Approximate
Time Required		 1 hr 30 mins

Contents

Video (5 mins) A video to introduce the life cycle of a silkworm from eggs, to worms, to cocoons, to either silk moths or silk. 
This can be accessed here.
Video (7 mins) A video to detail the process of artificial rearing of mulberry silkworms as practiced in India.
This can be accessed here.
Reading (10-15 mins) A reading that states what the management and climatic factors are for successful rearing of silkworm crops and for higher silk production.
This can be accessed here.
Classroom/ Laboratory activity
(40-50 mins)		 An optional hands-on guide for laboratory rearing of silkworms.
This can be accessed here.

 

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.

1 Introduce the topic through this video  Use this video titled, “Silkworm Lifecycle: worm to cocoon” by Jonathan L. to teach the life cycle of silkworm from larvae to cocoon-the stage of silk production. This video shows the detail of feeding and development of the larvae to moult into the cocoon which is the stage when it secretes the silk fibre for pupation.

This can be accessed here. 
2 Further explain this topic through this video Use this video titled, “Silk worm farming in India: how your silk is made” by WildfilmsIndia to teach the process of artificial rearing of silkworm in rearing houses for commercial silk production. Through the case study of Indian silk rearing practices, teach your students about sericulture and the role of a silkworm at different stages of its lifecycle. Silkworms are soft bodied, slow-moving and relatively fast growing insects that go through four stages of development - egg, larva, pupa and adult. The pupa is what the silkworm changes into after spinning its cocoon before emerging as a month.              

This can be accessed here.
3 Demonstrate how it is related to Climate Change through this Reading  This reading is titled, “Management of climatic factors for successful silkworm (Bombyx mori) crop and higher silk production: A review” by Rahmathulla, Central Sericulture Board, Mysore, Karnataka, India. It can be used for discussing the role of temperature, humidity, photoperiod and various other environmental factors on the growth and development of silkworm. This includes embryonic development of eggs, cocoon yield, weight, nutritional indices of larva, reproductive potential of adult moths and post cocoon parameters. This reading highlights the care needed during cocoon formation and future strategies for the management of climatic conditions. 

This can be accessed here. 
4 Classroom/Laboratory activities (45-50 mins) (optional) This optional hands-on technique for rearing silkworm in a laboratory is titled, “Techniques of Rearing Silkworm” by the Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textile, Government of India. It can be used to extend the understanding of the process of sericulture for silk production. Use these activities to enable the students to understand the life cycle of silkworm and the importance of maintaining appropriate rearing conditions for proper growth and development of silkworm in order to increase silk productivity. 

The detailed technique describing the rearing rooms, rearing conditions, rearing equipment and the rearing techniques can be accessed here.

 

As an Undergraduate teacher of Biological Sciences or Agricultural Sciences, you can use this set of computer-based tools to teach about the cultivation of mulberry plants as an important food source of the silkworm, Bombyx mori for the sericulture industry. 

Mulberry is a deciduous tree belonging to the Moraceae family having traditional economic importance for the sustainability of the sericulture industry. This plant grows in various climatic ecosystems including the temperate and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, Europe and USA.

This lesson plan will allow you to teach about the cultivation of the mulberry plant, the impact of climate change on its growth, and the quality and quantity of leaf production which will ultimately impact silkworm rearing and silk production. This lesson could thereby help in the understanding of the management and cultivation practices of mulberry. Climate change impacts such as increased level of CO₂ affect plant yield through photosynthesis and stomatal conductance but the beneficial impact of elevated CO₂ can be offset by other effects of climate change such as elevated temperature and altered patterns of precipitation.

This could help in teaching and developing better management practices for the sericulture industry as climate change may directly affect the mulberry plantation, soil, pest, and silkworms.

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 and Agricultural Sciences.

Teacher-contributed lesson plan by Dr. Rita Rath (Dyal Singh College), Dr. Neeraja Sood (Dyal Singh College), and Dr. Nisha Vashishta (Miranda House).

Want to know more about how to contribute? Contact us.

Questions

Use this Lesson Plan to help your students find answers to:

  1. Define moriculture and which is the most important tree for the rearing of the silkworm, Bombyx mori?
  2. What is the impact of temperature, humidity, photoperiod, CO₂ concentration, precipitation and other climatic factors on the mulberry plant?
  3. Discuss moriculture and sustainability in the sericulture industry?
  4. What are the challenges of the sericulture industry with special reference to moriculture in relation to climate change?

About Lesson Plan

Grade Level Undergraduate
Discipline Biological Sciences, Agricultural Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline Moriculture, Sericulture,

Mulberry, Mulberry Cultivation,

Silkworm, Plant Yield
Climate Topic Climate and Agriculture; Climate and the Biosphere
Location Global; Asia, India
Language(s) English
Access Online/offline
Approximate
Time Required		 1 hr 30 mins

Contents

Video Micro-Lectures (15 min) A video that discusses methods of mulberry cultivation.

This can be accessed here.
Reading (15 min) A reading that describes the modes of mulberry plantation for silkworm rearing

This can be accessed here.
Reading (15 min) A reading on the impact of climate change on sustainable sericulture development in India.

This can be accessed here.

 

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.

1 Introduce the topic using this video This video titled, “​​Cultivation & harvesting of mulberry plants. Moriculture in brief. Subtopic of sericulture” by Prof Amol Jawale can be used to teach about the methods of cultivation of mulberry plants as the food source for silkworm larvae in the sericulture industry. This video shows the details of mulberry plantation techniques from soil preparation to planting, to care and management of plants and harvesting of leaves or branches for feeding the silkworm larvae

This can be accessed here. 
2 Further introduce the topic using the reading This reading titled, “Studies on the mode of plantation of mulberry for silkworm rearing” by S. Rajput, S. Chanotra, R. Gupta, M. Bashir, I.A. Dar, N. Dhar, J.S. Tara and R. Mohan can be used to discuss and evaluate the plantation methods and varieties of mulberry plants suitable as feed for growth and development of silkworm, Bombyx mori which ultimately influences the cocoon traits such as yield, weight, silk percentage, etc. 

This can be accessed here.
3 Demonstrate the connection to climate change using this reading This reading titled, “Impact of climate change on sustainable sericulture development in India” by R.L. Ram, C. Maji, and B.D. Bindroo can be used to discuss the issues of climate change due to anthropogenic greenhouse gases such as Co₂, methane and nitrous oxide impacting sustainable sericultural development. It can also be used to discuss the impact of climate change on the practice and economy of the sericulture industry and on soil health which affects mulberry plantation, mulberry diseases and pests. 

This can be accessed here.

 
Video/Micro lecture: Karl Marx and Climate Change

As a high school Humanities teacher in English or Communications, you can use this set of computer-based tools to help you teach students persuasive language techniques. It focuses on language techniques used in climate communication, specifically how climate misinformation has been used by a range of actors to confuse the public in order to stymie effective action on climate change.

This lesson plan uses a game titled ‘Cranky Uncle’ developed by John Cook, Monash University to help students develop critical thinking skills and equip them with skills in language analyses and techniques. Students will be introduced to the five techniques within the FLICC Framework (Fake Experts, Logical Fallacies, Impossible Expectations, Conspiracy Theories, Cherry Picking), Climate myth examples, and Climate denialism

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

This is a lesson plan developed by the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub (MCCCRH) with contributions by Lucy Bandiera, Tess Kelly, Will McIlroy, Josh Mancusi-Thomas and Dr. John Cook.

The lesson plan originated at the “Climate Classrooms: Educational Resources for Teachers” workshop at the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (AMOS) conference held online in February 2021. The workshop was sponsored by CLEX and supported by MCCCRH, AMOS, the University of Melbourne, the UNSW Sydney, and the TROP ICSU  project. A version of the lesson plan tailored for use in Australian classrooms is available at this link.

Curriculum Code (Australia): 

ACELA1567 – Understand how paragraphs and images can be arranged for different purposes, audiences, perspectives and stylistic effects

ACELA1569 – Analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of a wide range of sentence and clause structures as authors design and craft texts 

ACELA1571 – Refine vocabulary choices to discriminate between shades of meaning, with deliberate attention to the effect on audiences

Questions

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

  1. What is Climate Denialism?
  2. Discuss how climate misinformation has been used by a range of actors to confuse the public in order to stymie effective action on climate change.
  3. What are the five persuasive language techniques and how can they improve climate communication?

About Lesson Plan

Grade Level High school
Discipline Humanities, English, Communications
Topic(s) in Discipline Language techniques,

Critical thinking, Communication,

Climate Communication,

Misinformation, Fake News,

Climate Denial
Climate Topic Climate Literacy
Location Global, Australia
Language(s) English
Access Online; Offline
Approximate
Time Required		 55 – 70 min

Contents

Reading
(5 - 10 min)		 A reading on the 5 techniques of science denial.
This can be accessed here.
Reading
(5 - 10 min)		 A PowerPoint presentation that describes each of the denialist strategies that make up the FLICC Framework
This can be accessed here.
Videos
(1-2 min)		 A series of very short videos, each focusing on logical fallacy or a language miscommunication technique.
This can be accessed below:
Example of ‘Ad hominem’ Fallacy
Example of ‘False analogy’ Fallacy
Example of ‘False choice’ Fallacy
Example of ‘Oversimplification’ Fallacy
Example of ‘Single cause’ Fallacy
Games
 (10 - 15 mins)		 The Cranky Uncle Game serves as the primary resource for the lesson plan and guides students through the FLICC Framework and examples of each denialist strategy.
This can be accessed here.

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.

Topic introduction and discussion                                                                                                Start the lecture through a discussion on the prevalence of fake news today and how science denialism can be counterproductive to pressing issues such as the climate crisis. Next, introduce the topic of science denialism through a classroom discussion using the reading titled ‘A history of FLICC: the 5 techniques of science denial’ by John Cook, Monash University available at the Cranky Uncle teaching resource webpage. This reading includes discussions on the 5 techniques of science denial namely: 
  1. Fake Experts, 
  2. Logical Fallacies, 
  3. Impossible Expectations, 
  4. Conspiracy Theories, and 
  5. Cherry Picking 

Explain to your students how these denialist strategies make up the FLICC Framework. This resource also includes video lectures to further explain the topic. Definitions of each denial technique with climate change specific examples are also listed. This can be accessed here.

A PowerPoint presentation on these discussions that teachers can use in their classroom is provided by the author and can be accessed here.
Extend Understanding Extend student understanding by playing a series of very short videos. Each video focuses on logical fallacy or a language miscommunication technique.

This can be accessed below:

  1. Example of ‘Ad hominem’ Fallacy
  2. Example of ‘False analogy’ Fallacy
  3. Example of ‘False choice’ Fallacy
  4. Example of ‘Oversimplification’ Fallacy
  5. Example of ‘Single cause’ Fallacy
Explore Topic Further Use the Cranky Uncle game so that students understand the FLICC Framework and examples of each denialist strategy. 

Students can access the game via iPhone (http://sks.to/crankyiphone), Android (http://sks.to/crankyandroid), or browser (https://app.crankyuncle.info). 

The teacher can register for a group code via http://sks.to/crankyclass (not necessary but allows students to play the game anonymously without entering an email).

“In the Cranky Uncle game, players are mentored by a cartoon personification of climate science denial. Cranky Uncle explains 14 techniques of science denial, from fake experts to cherry-picking and a variety of different logical fallacies.”

You can divide your classroom into groups and have students work in groups to match the definitions of the FLICC persuasive techniques, their titles, and their symbols in the game. 
Discuss further After the students have finished exploring the game, have a classroom discussion reflecting upon concepts learned and connections to climate denial. You may also choose to ask your students to come up with new examples of climate misinformation and evaluate their understanding of science denialism using FLICC techniques.

A classroom/laboratory activity to understand the carbon cycle, and to explore how human activities may affect the natural carbon cycle.

Students will run a simulation to explore how an increase in fossil fuel use will affect the natural carbon cycle, and will discuss the possible impacts on flora and fauna.

Use this tool to help your students find answers to:

  1. Which components in the carbon cycle act as carbon sinks?
  2. What are the possible impacts of deforestation on the natural carbon cycle? How might these changes affect the Earth’s climate?

About the Tool

Tool Name The Habitable Planet – Carbon Lab
Discipline Chemistry
Topic(s) in Discipline Carbon Cycle, Biogeochemical Cycles, Environmental Chemistry
Climate Topic Long-term Cycles and Feedback Mechanisms
Type of Tool Laboratory Activity
Grade Level High School
Location  Global
Language English
Translation
Developed by Annenberg Learner
Hosted at Annenberg Learner
Link https://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/interactives/carbon/index.php
Access Online
Computer Skills Intermediate
Reading: Beer-Lambert Law
E-Learning Course: Climate Change- A Guide For Teachers Of All Disciplines Video: The Greenhouse Effect of the Atmosphere
Teaching Module: Teach Climate Science with the Teacher Friendly Guide To Climate Change™ man people writing mathematics Reading: The Physics of Climate Change

A classroom/laboratory activity to learn about the isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen, analyze the isotopic composition of ice, and understand how isotopic compositions can be used to recreate past temperatures and climate.

Students will plot graphs to analyze data from the Vostok ice core in Antarctica, learn about the ice age and the gas age, calculate past temperatures using hydrogen isotope data, and discuss the possible impacts of changes in carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) concentrations on climate.

Use this tool to help your students find answers to:

  1. How can you use hydrogen isotope data in an ice core to determine temperature?
  2. How can the isotopic composition of air bubbles in ice cores be used to recreate past climate?

About the Tool

Tool Name Lab: Vostok Ice Core
Discipline Chemistry, Earth Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline Isotopes, Isotopic Ratios, Isotopic Composition in paleoclimate reconstructions, Atomic Number, Atomic Mass
Climate Topic Climate and the Cryosphere, Climate Variability Record
Type of Tool Laboratory Activity
Grade Level Undergraduate
Location Antarctica
Vostok Station
Language English
Translation
Developed by  Stephanie Pfirman, Barnard College
Hosted at Columbia University: The Climate System course taught by Peter Schlosser, Stephanie Pfirman, Mingfang Ting, Jason Smerdon
Link Link
Access Online, Offline
Computer Skills Intermediate
Video/ Microlecture: Climate Change: The Physics Connection

As an Undergraduate Biological Sciences teacher, you can use this set of computer based tools to enable students to develop a comprehensive understanding about how vertebrate populations of red deer (Cervus elaphus) show evolutionary responses in terms of reproductive fitness to climate change. 

Through this lesson students can observe how warming temperatures caused by climate change can have a direct effect on advancement of parturition time or breeding time. The changed breeding time and optimum fitness may reshape selective pressure and decrease population growth and place them at risk. 

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

Teacher-contributed lesson plan by Dr. Simran Jit (Assistant Professor, Miranda House, University of Delhi) and Dr. Jaspreet Kaur (Assistant Professor, Maitreyi College, University of Delhi)

Want to know more about how to contribute? Contact us.

Questions

Use this Lesson Plan to help the students to understand and find answers to:

  1. What is fecundity?
  2. What is the role of reproductive fitness in natural selection and evolution?
  3. How climate change has led to changes in reproductive fitness in animals like Red deer?

About Lesson Plan

Grade Level Undergraduate
Discipline Biological Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline Evolutionary Biology, Natural Selection, Reproductive Fitness, Fecundity, Red Deer, Cervus elaphus
Climate Topic Climate and the Biosphere
Location Global
Language(s) English
Access Online
Approximate
Time Required		 50 – 60 min

 

Contents

Video

(2 min)

 An introductory video that discusses the example of red deer which are giving birth slightly earlier each year due to warming climate.

This can be accessed here.
Video

(14 mins)

 A video that explains the relationship between reproductive fitness and natural selection using examples.

This can be accessed here.
Reading

(20 min)

 A research article that demonstrates how the population of Red deer, living on the Isle of Rum, on the west coast of Scotland are evolving to give birth earlier in a warming climate.

This can be accessed here.
Reading

(5 min)

 An article provides the details about reproductive fitness and how it is linked with natural selection.

This can be accessed here.
Classroom/ Laboratory Activity

(15-20 mins)

 Using the above article, help students to learn the basic concepts of natural selection and reproductive variance through a hands-on activity.

This can be downloaded from here.

 

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.

1 Introduce the topic by playing a video lecture A video titled, “Evolutionary Thinking: Natural Selection” by Yale Courses, can be used to discuss the principle of reproductive fitness and how it is related with natural selection. This video can be used to discuss the basic conditions which are required for natural selection to occur. One of these conditions include ‘variation in reproductive successes.

This can be accessed here.
2 Discuss the topic further by using this short article This article titled, “The Meaning of Fitness” by Sedeer el-Showk, can be used to emphasize the role of variation in reproductive success using the article.

This can be accessed here.
3 Demonstrate how it related to Climate Change through this video  The video titled “Scottish red deer 'evolving' due to climate change” by Sharjah24 News, can be used to discuss how the animals are evolving in order to cope up with climate change by giving the recent example of red deer which are giving birth slightly earlier each year due to warming climate.

This can be accessed here.
4 Enhance student knowledge on impact of Climate change on Red Deers through this article An article titled, “The role of selection and evolution in changing parturition date in a red deer population” by Timothée Bonnet et. al., can be used to further build upon the original research article, wherein the role of selection and evolution in changing parturition date in a red deer population has been discussed in detail.

This can be accessed here.
5 Conduct this Classroom/ Laboratory activity for hands-on experience Now, conduct the classroom/laboratory activity to explore the topic in more detail. This activity will help students to learn the basic concepts of natural selection and reproductive variance wherein different selective pressures like climate change can change the parturition date in a red deer population.

Navigate to the ‘S1 Data. Data necessary to reproduce all analysis’ under ‘Supporting Information’ of the original research article (Bonnet et al., 2019). The original article can be accessed here. Alternatively, the data files can be directly downloaded from here.

Then conduct simple linear regression analysis for parturition date or offspring birthdate (in days) over the 45-year study period (from 1972 to 2016). The steps are given below:

  1. Open the link and download the zipped folder.
  2. The folder contains data files. Import ‘Birth_fit_data.txt’ file in MS Excel.
  3. Use the two columns ‘​​OffspBirthYear &; OffspBirthDate’ and sort the OffBirthYear in ascending order.
  4. Use the sorted data (from 1972 to 2016) for linear regression analysis by adding the trendline and displaying R-equation on the chart.
  5. You will observe the trend line with a negative slope (goes down and right). Statistically, this implies that as x increases, y decreases. In other words, the OffSpBirthDate decreases with increasing OffspBirthYear.

Thus, this activity uses the original research data to deduce the statistical inference about decreased parturition date with respect to changing climate conditions during the 45-year study period (from 1972 to 2016).

 

 Teaching Module: pH Scale, Ocean Chemistry and Impact of Ocean Acidification on Marine Life
Reading: Climate Change- The Teacher Friendly Guide™ blue and gray moon during nighttime Reading: What is the Atmosphere?
Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Black Carbon and Earth’s Albedo Video Micro-lecture: Ocean Buffer Chemistry
Video/Microlecture: Teaching Climate Change in the Humanities and History Classrooms antarctic landscape with broken ice on water and frozen mounts Reading: What is the Cryosphere?
Reading: A History of Climate Models Audio: Rap Music and Climate Change
Video/Microlecture: The Role of the Social Sciences sea under white dramatic sky Reading: What is the Hydrosphere?
Video Micro-lecture: Modes of Vibration in Greenhouse Gas Molecules books in shelf Audio: Climate Change Literature
strict female teacher with book pointing at scribbled blackboard Video Lecture: An Introduction to Atmospheric Thermodynamics smart kids learning cell structure Reading: Climate Change in the Life Sciences Classroom
black metal rod on brown wooden surface Reading: What is the Lithosphere? Classroom/Laboratory Activity: What are Aerosols?
wood hotel summer sun Reading: Postcolonial Studies and Climate Change woman in red long sleeve writing on chalk board Video/ Microlecture: Quantum Physics
Video micro-lecture: Phase Diagrams and Earth’s Climate Reading: A Climate Fiction (Cli-Fi) Syllabus
white clouds over black asphalt road Reading: Climate Disasters: An Overview Video Lecture: Quantum Mechanics and Climate Change
Video: Ethics, Philosophy and Value Theory Visualization: Blackbody Spectrum
body of water Reading: The Water Cycle hollywood sign Audio: Climate Change Poems read by Celebrities
toucan on green grass near sea Reading: Climate Change and Ecosystems Reading: Climate Change in the Social Sciences Classroom
Classroom/ Laboratory Activity: Interactive Quiz on the Water Cycle brown and white factory building during night time Reading: Chaos Theory and Global Warming
light dawn landscape sunset Video/Microlecture: Precipitation Patterns and Climate Change E-learning Course: Impact of Climate Change on Cities

A guidebook of gender-sensitive approaches to climate change policy for city planning. It discusses the different ways in which women and men are affected by climate change. This guidebook includes discussions on gender inequalities such as gender division of labour, gender differentials in income, gender biases in decision making, and other factors contributing to climate vulnerability.

Students will understand how climate change impacts genders differently. They will also learn the importance of gender sensitivity in formulating climate change policies. Students will be introduced to gender sensitive climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience in cities.

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

  1. How does climate change affect genders differently?
  2. Give a few reasons why climate change policies should use a gender-sensitive approach
  3. What are the priorities for gender-sensitive climate policies at urban levels?

About the Tool 

Tool Name Gender and Urban Climate Policy: Gender-Sensitive Policies Make a Difference
Discipline Humanities, Social Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline Gender, Gender and Climate Change, Gender Inequality, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Climate Change Policy, Climate Vulnerability
Climate Topic Climate and Society, Policies, Politics, and Environmental Governance
Type of Tool Reading
Grade Level Undergraduate, Graduate
Location  Global
Language English
Translation –
Developed by Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development 
Hosted at Giz, UN Habitat, Gender CC 
Link Reading Link
Access Online, Offline
Computer Skills Basic

 

 blue electric sparks Teaching module: The Physics of Climate Change Prediction
Video: Permafrost and Climate Change crowd of people black and white photo Video/Microlecture: Societal Impacts of Climate Change
Reading: Hydrocarbon Combustion Classroom/Laboratory Activity: The Coriolis Effect
A Collection of E-Learning Courses on Climate Change photo of foggy forest Reading: Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change
woman wearing mask on train Reading: Pandemics in a Changing World Video: International Climate Change Policy
Reading: Isotopic Compositions and Ice Cores

Series of two E-Learning Courses on Introduction to Climate Change and Climate Science

Following are two online courses in Climate Change and Climate Science by the National Resource Centre (NRC) on Climate Change at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune as part of the Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India.

The courses are multidisciplinary in the approach and include the current state of understanding of climate science and climate change, the latest developments in the field, societal impacts of climate change, climate change policies and governance, and impacts of climate change.

The online course video playlist includes:

· Introduction to Climate Science and Climate Change (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
· Climate Archives, Climate Data, and Climate Models (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
· Climate Change: Past Records: Climate Change on Tectonic Timescales, Orbital Timescales, Glacial/Deglacial Timescales, Millenial Timescales, Historical Timescales (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
· Modern Climate Change: Global Warming since the Industrial Revolution (Raghu Murtugudde)
· Future Projections of Climate Change (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
· Mitigation and Adaptation (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland and Malti Goel, Climate Change Research Institute)
· Climate Change and Society: Culture, Politics, Social Dynamics (D. Parthasarathy, IIT Bombay)
· Climate Change Policy and Governance: Global Negotiations and Domestic Policy Making (Navroz Dubash, Centre for Policy Research)
· Climate Change: Impacts in India (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
· Climate Change and Impacts on

(a) The Indian Monsoon (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)

(b) Water Resources (Pradeep Mujumdar, IISc Bengaluru)

(c) Biodiversity and Ecology (Deepak Barua, IISER Pune)

(d) The Himalayan Glaciers (Argha Banerjee, IISER Pune)

· Teaching Resources and Pedagogical Tools (Rahul Chopra, IISER Pune)

Tool Name Introduction to Climate Change Course
Discipline All Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline Different aspects of climate change
Climate Topic Introduction to climate change
Type of Tool E-learning Course
Grade Level High school, Undergraduate
Location Global
Language English
Translation
Developed by National Resource Centre (NRC) on Climate Change at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune as part of the Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India
Hosted at IISER Pune Science Media Center YouTube Channel
Link Course 1: Science of climate change, mitigation, adaptation and resilience

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZbgNdSTyWDbHe1onWK9SULbPxCuAMi1Z

Course 2: Integration of climate change topics with the core curriculum

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZbgNdSTyWDafbfITIuKAxkk7CdiXk9Y9
Access Online
Computer Skills Basic

Course 1: Introduction to Climate Change

Course 2: Introduction to Climate Change and Climate Science
Reading: Teaching Climate Change in the Mathematics Classroom man carrying gray pipe Reading: The Concrete Problem
person writing on white board Reading: Climate Change Mathematics Video/ Microlecture: Climate Change in the Environmental Sciences Classroom
Video/Microlecture: Teaching Climate Change in the Sociology Classroom Game: The Food Challenge
colorful liquids in test tubes Reading: Climate Change: The Chemistry Connection colorful liquids in laboratory glasswares Reading: Chemistry and Climate Change
retro camera on comic book Reading: What Is Climate Change? A Comic woman in white long sleeve shirt holding white book Reading: Fossil Fuels and the Climate Crisis- A Comic
machine harvest Video/Microlecture: The Way We Eat high angle photo of robot Teaching Module: Climate Adaptation and Mitigation
person holding a cardboard poster Teaching Module: Climate Change and the Future of Food man wearing blue hat spraying yellow flowers on field Teaching Module: Teacher Guide to Climate Change and Agriculture
crop child reading comics at home Reading: Climate Change Impacts- A Comic crop child reading comics at home Reading: Climate Change: What Can You Do? A Comic
photo of cola pouring into a glass with ice cubes Game: The Carbon Footprint of Food person slicing meat on white ceramic plate Game: The Carbon Footprint of Chicken Tikka Masala and Other Food Items ‌
person feeding giraffe Audio: Feeding The Planet Video/Microlecture: Climate Adaptation: An Introduction
island during golden hour and upcoming storm E-learning Course: Climate Science: An Introduction Video/Microlecture: Climate Change and the Lithosphere
view of cityscape Teaching Module: Feedback Mechanisms house beside body of water covered with ice vector art Teaching Module: Earth’s Climate and the Cryosphere: An Overview
Game: NASA Climate Kids Reading: Species extinction due to climate change
Visualization: The Greenhouse Effect assorted sliced fruits in white ceramic bowl Video: Climate Change and the Food We Eat

As an undergraduate Mathematics or Data Science teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to help you in teaching Introductory Statistics and specifically Linear Regression and Polynomial Regression.

Introduction

This lesson plan will help you to teach Introductory Statistics for Data Science through a Linear Regression and Polynomial Regression assignment. The lesson plan includes a hands-on computer-based classroom activity to be conducted on a dataset of annual production-based emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) by China, measured in million tonnes per year, for the span of 1902-2018. This activity includes hands-on Python code, a set of inquiry-based questions that will enable your students to apply their understanding of scatter plots, regression equations, correlation coefficients, linear regression, polynomial regression, and the difference between them. 

Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science.

Questions

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

  1. Use an example to describe linear regression analysis and polynomial regression.
  2. Use regression analyses to describe how annual production-based emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) by China have changed over time.
  3. Discuss reasons for changes in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and their impact on Earth’s climate.

About the Lesson Plan

Grade Level Undergraduate
Discipline Mathematics, Data Science
Topic(s) in Discipline Scatter Plots, Correlation Coefficients,
Regression Equations, Linear Regression,
Polynomial Regression
Climate Topic Climate and the Atmosphere
Climate Variability Record
Location Global
Language(s) English
Access Online, Offline
Computer Skills Required Intermediate
Approximate
Time Required		 60-80 min

Contents

Contents

Teaching Module

(25 min)

 A teaching module to explain the basics of scatter plots, correlation coefficients, regression equations, and linear regression

For High School

For Undergraduate
Video micro-lectures

(14 and 5 min)

 A video micro-lecture to give Introduction to Simple Linear Regression

A video micro-lecture to give Introduction to Polynomial Regression
Classroom/ Laboratory activity

(30 min)

 A classroom activity - Python Code to apply understanding of linear regression and polynomial regression using a dataset of the annual production-based emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) by China, measured in million tonnes per year, for the span of 1902-2018.

Go to GitHub Repository

Video

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.

1 Topic introduction and discussion 1.         Use the teaching module, ‘Introduction-Linear Regression and Correlation’ by OpenStaxTM, Rice University (for High School level) or ‘Chapter-3: Linear Regression’ provided by Ramesh Sridharan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (for Undergraduate level), to introduce these topics of basic statistics.

2.         Navigate to the sub-sections within the module to the basics of scatter plots, correlation coefficients, regression equations, and linear regression.

3.         Use the in-built practice exercises and quizzes to evaluate your students’ understanding of the topics.

For High School

For Undergraduate
2 Develop the topic further Use the video micro-lecture, ‘Introduction to Simple Linear Regression’ by dataminingincae, INCAE Business School for a basic introduction to Simple Linear Regression and terms like dependant variable, independent variable, regression line, regression coefficients.

Use the video micro-lecture, ' Polynomial Regression' by Art of Visualization for a basic introduction to Polynomial Regression and how it is useful to fit a nonlinear model to the data.
3 Extend understanding by practicing Hands-on Python code

Dataset link

Python Notebook link

 1. Use the provided Dataset china-co2-csv.csv and Python Notebook Simple-and-Polynomial-Regression.ipynb.

2. The dataset includes Annual Production-based Emissions of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) by China, measured in million tonnes per year, for the span 1902-2018.

Data Source: Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC) and Global Carbon Project

3.  Use the Python Notebook and Dataset to:

  • -Read the Dataset using DataFrame
  • -Know the basics of the dataset like its dimensions, data types and memory usage
  • -Plot the scatter plot of yearly co2 emissions variable
  • -Use NumPy library to convert the DataFrame to NumPy Array which would be used in the further steps.
  • Part 1: Linear Regression
  • -Find the Regression Coefficients  for Simple Linear Regression
  • -Plot the scatter plot and Regression Line as per the predicted coefficients
  • -Calculate RMSE (Root Mean-Squared Error-values)
  • -Discuss how well the Regression Line describes the data points.
  • Part 2: Polynomial Regression
  • -Explain how polynomial regression fits a nonlinear model to the data
  • -Compute the number of output features, then Transform data to polynomial features, fit a Regression for Transformed data, and then predict values
  • -Calculate RMSE (Root Mean-Squared Error-values)
  • -Discuss how well the Regression model describes the data points.
  • -Suggest the students to try different values for the degree of the Polynomial and see the difference between the results visually and also by comparing it using the RMSE value.

 

4. Encourage your students to answer topical questions by applying their understanding of scatter plots, correlation coefficients, linear regression and polynomial regression.

5.   Use the regression analyses performed to initiate a discussion on the increase in  CO2 emissions from 1980 to 2020 due to anthropogenic activities, which is one major reason behind global climate change.
number cutout decors Video/Microlecture: Climate Change: The Math Connection
Hadley-global-circulation-cells Reading: Hadley Circulation colorful liquids in laboratory glasswares Video Lecture: First Law of Thermodynamics
smoke coming out of factory pipes Model/ Simulator: The Greenhouse Effect man person people woman Video Lecture: Claussius Clayperon and the Second Law of Thermodynamics
Video/Micro Lecture: Amitav Ghosh on History and Climate Change group of men forming a libe Video/Microlecture: Climate Change and Society
Reading (Teaching Manual): Algebra and Climate aerial photography of green forest Teaching Module: The Greenhouse Effect
Videos: Earth’s Climate, the Biosphere, and Geological Evolution boat out at sea at dusk Reading: Climate and the Hydrosphere
Teaching Module: Cli-Fi—Climate Change Literature city sky sunset water Reading: Black Carbon – An Introduction
sky earth space working Teaching Module: Climate Change Mathematics by NASA teacher talking to the class Video Lecture: Thermodynamics and the Hydrostatic Equation
person tossing globe Reading: Introduction to Planetary Energy Balance crowd of protesting people with banners on city street Video/ Microlecture: Culture, Politics and Climate Change
Reading: The climate in our hands – Ocean and Cryosphere E-learning Course: Build Climate Models using Python
pexels-photo-207937.jpeg Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Black Carbon and Human Health orange sun during sunset Teaching Module: Planetary Energy Balance
Teaching Module: Analyzing Climate Science Data through Simple Statistical Techniques Visual Media: Climate Images for Effective Visual Communication
gray scale photo of metal fence Reading: Black Carbon in the Atmosphere space technology research science Video Lecture: Radiative Transfer
Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Climate Change, the Cryosphere, and Rising Sea Levels Visualization: Introduction to the Carbon Cycle
Reading: Safeguarding Human Rights in the Context of Climate Change african woman showing handicraft earthenware in local workshop Video/micro lecture: Introduction to Gender and Climate Change
Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Using Introductory Calculus (Integration) to Analyze CO2 Emission Data healthy sea nature sunny Reading: Infectious Diseases In A Warming World
eye level photo of cultivated land Reading: Carbon Sequestration in Soil Model/Simulator: Modeling Planetary Energy Balance
Teaching Modules: Climate Justice Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Using Polynomial Differentiation to Analyze Global Atmospheric CO2
Mobile App: Polar Explorer (Sea Level) Video: Sea Level Rise
Video/ Microlecture: Climate Change in the Maths and Statistics Classroom climate road landscape people Reading: What is Climate Literacy?
Video: What is Ocean Acidification? Video: Food Security
Reading: Planetary Temperatures pair of white dice on top of mirror Teaching Module: Predict the Climate by throwing a dice
Visualization: Melting Ice Sheets and Sea Level Rise books placed between branches of blossoming tree Video/ Microlecture: Poetry in Strange Times
Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Meteorologist for a day Visualization: Blackbody Radiation and Planetary Temperatures
Visualization: pH Levels of Oceans and Atmospheric CO2 nature animal park tree Reading: Ecosystem-Based Conservation in Central Africa
mathematical equation written on blackboard Differential Calculus using Methane Data Video: Rising Sea Surface Temperature and Hurricane Intensity

A classroom/laboratory activity to learn about the pH of ocean water, explore the potential effects of climate change on ocean acidification, and understand the possible impacts of ocean acidification on marine organisms such as oysters.

Students will explore and analyze the relationship between the growth of oyster larvae and the chemistry of ocean water (aragonite saturation state) by plotting graphs for actual data from the Whiskey Creek Hatchery in Oregon, USA.

Use this tool to help your students find answers to:

  1. If ocean water became more acidic, how might it affect oyster populations?
  2. What are the possible impacts of climate change on the chemistry of seawater?

About the Tool

Tool Name Ocean Acidification and Oysters Lab
Discipline Chemistry
Topic(s) in Discipline pH Scale, Acids and Bases, Acidification, Ocean Carbonate Chemistry, Seawater Chemistry, Aragonite Saturation State, Ocean Acidity
Climate Topic Climate and the Hydrosphere
Type of Tool Laboratory Activity
Grade Level High School, Undergraduate
Location North America
USA
Language English
Translation
Developed by Hilary Palevsky, UW Oceanography
Hosted at Program on Climate Change, College of the Environment, University of Washington
Link Link
Access Online, Offline
Computer Skills Intermediate

(Image credit: Program on Climate Change, College of the Environment, University of Washington)

 Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Determining Coastal Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise
books in tree crotch on sunny spring day Reading: Climate Change Poetry white paper with black text Teaching Module: Poetry Writing
solar technician installing solar panel Classroom/ Laboratory Activity: Teaching Differentiating Functions through Solar Energy Data Laboratory Activity: Urban Heat Island
Flood Visualization: The Effects of Sea-level Rise on the Coast of California Visualization: The Changing pH of Ocean Water and Its Impact on Marine Life
Video Lecture: Planck’s Law and Earths Climate silhouette of fireman holding hose Reading: Climate Change and Natural Disasters
windmills on seashore under white clouds Classroom/ Laboratory Activity: Differentiation and Wind Energy

A short article that describes the decline of insect population due to climate change. This article by the Entomological Society of America focuses on the importance of insects in food webs and how climate change affects their distribution.

Students will learn how a changing climate generally reduces the population of insects and potentially alters the food web. Further, they will learn about the impacts on food security and the potential spread of vector-borne diseases. 

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

  1. Why are insects important to an ecosystem? 
  2. How does climate change affect insect populations? 
  3. Discuss the impacts of climate change on insect population, food security and disease.

About the tool

Tool Name Climate-Change Impact on Insects ‘Simply Cannot be Ignored’
Discipline Biological Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline Insects, Arthropods, Insect Biodiversity, Food Web, Food Security, Invasive Species, Vector-borne Diseases
Climate Topic  Climate and the Biosphere
Type of tool  Reading
Grade Level High School, Undergraduate
Location Global
Language English 
Translation
Developed by Entomological Society of America
Hosted at Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Link https://www.entsoc.org/climate-change-impact-insects-simply-cannot-be-ignored
Access Online
Computer Skills Basic
Teaching Module: Climate Change, the Environment, and Human Health focused young woman refueling car Classroom/ Laboratory Activity: World Petroleum Consumption
Reading: Atmospheric Dynamics and Hadley Cells Teaching Module: Biogeochemical Cycles and Climate Change
Reading: Changes in Intensity and Frequency of Hurricanes Video/Micro Lecture: A Commentary on Dipesh Chakrabarty’s The Climate of History: Four Theses
Reading: Hurricanes and Climate Change Reading: Dipesh Chakrabarty ‘The Climate of History: Four Theses’
Hadley_circulation Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Hadley Circulation—Heat Transport in the Atmosphere Visualization: Show Your Stripes: Changes in Temperature
Classroom Activity: Climate Change and Phenology in Plants (Flowering)

As an undergraduate Mathematics or Data Science teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to help you in teaching Introductory Statistics and specifically Linear Regression.

Introduction

This lesson plan will help you to teach Introductory Statistics for Data Science through a Linear Regression assignment. The lesson plan includes a hands-on computer-based classroom activity to be conducted on a dataset of Yearly Global Average CO2 Concentrations in parts per million. This activity includes hands-on Python code, a set of inquiry-based questions that will enable your students to apply their understanding of scatter plots, regression equations, correlation coefficients, and linear regression. 

Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Mathematics, Statistics and Data Science.

Questions

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

  1. Use an example to describe linear regression analysis.
  2. Use linear regression analyses to describe how global average CO2 concentrations have changed from 1980-2020 (last datapoint).
  3. Discuss reasons for changes in global average CO2 concentrations and their impact on Earth’s climate.

About the Lesson Plan

Grade Level Undergraduate
Discipline Mathematics, Data Science
Topic(s) in Discipline Scatter Plots, Correlation Coefficients,
Regression Equations, Linear Regression
Climate Topic Climate and the Atmosphere
Climate Variability Record
Location Global
Language(s) English
Access Online, Offline
Computer Skills Required Intermediate
Approximate
Time Required		 60-80 min

Contents

Contents

Teaching Module

(25 min)

 A teaching module to explain the basics of scatter plots, correlation coefficients, regression equations, and linear regression

For High School

For Undergraduate
Video micro-lecture

(~14 min)

 A video micro-lecture to give Introduction to Simple Linear Regression
Classroom/ Laboratory activity

(30 min)

 A classroom activity - Python Code to apply understanding of linear regression using a dataset of the Yearly Global Average CO2 Concentrations in parts per million (ppm) 1980-2020

Go to GitHub Repository

Video

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.

1 Topic introduction and discussion 1.         Use the teaching module, ‘Introduction-Linear Regression and Correlation’ by OpenStaxTM, Rice University (for High School level) or ‘Chapter-3: Linear Regression’ provided by Ramesh Sridharan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (for Undergraduate level), to introduce these topics of basic statistics.

2.         Navigate to the sub-sections within the module to the basics of scatter plots, correlation coefficients, regression equations, and linear regression.

3.         Use the in-built practice exercises and quizzes to evaluate your students’ understanding of the topics.

For High School

For Undergraduate
2 Develop the topic further Use the video micro-lecture, ‘Introduction to Simple Linear Regression’ by dataminingincae, INCAE Business School for a basic introduction to Simple Linear Regression and terms like dependant variable, independent variable, regression line, regression coefficients.
3 Extend understanding by practicing Hands-on Python code

Dataset link

Python Notebook link

 1. Use the provided Dataset about Yearly Global Average CO2 Concentrations, file global-atm-co2.csv) and Python Notebook global-co2-concentration.ipynb.

2.   The dataset includes monthly mean carbon dioxide globally averaged over marine surface sites for the span 1980-2020. Data Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

3.  Use the Python Notebook and Dataset to:

  • Read the Dataset using DataFrame
  • Know the basics of the dataset like its dimensions, data types and memory usage
  • Plot the scatter plot of yearly average_co2_concentrations variable
  • Use NumPy library to convert the DataFrame to NumPy Array which would be used in the further steps.
  • Find the Regression Coefficients  for Simple Linear Regression
  • Plot the scatter plot and Regression Line as per the predicted coefficients
  • Calculate RMSE (Root Mean-Squared Error-values)
  • Discuss how well the Regression Line describes the data points.

4. Encourage your students to answer topical questions by applying their understanding of scatter plots, correlation coefficients, regression equations and linear regression.

5.   Use the regression analyses performed to initiate a discussion on the increase in global average CO2 concentrations from 1980 to 2020 due to anthropogenic activities causing CO2 emissions.
woman covering face while reading book in nature Reading: Climate Change in Literary Fiction Visualization: If Global Temperature Rises by 4 °C
Laboratory Activity: Modeling the Earth’s Zonal Energy Balance man holding a book Reading: Can Cli-Fi Save The Planet?
Teaching Module: Climate Change for Introduction to Social Sciences Reading: Earth’s Equable Climate
Visualization: Glaciers and Climate Change black and white view of digger on construction Model/Simulator: Modeling Earth’s Carbon
Video: Coriolis Effect light sun cloud japan Video Lecture: Physics of Scattering and Greenhouse Gases
side view of woman in spacesuit sitting near a control panel Video/Micro Lecture: What is Cli-Fi? Video: Natural Selection and Climate Change
Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Linear Regression using Global Temperatures Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Glacial Retreat in Glacier National Park
green leafed trees Video/Microlecture: Culture, Heritage and Climate Change Reading: Glaciers as Indicators of Climate Change
E-learning Course: Visual Storytelling using Climate Change Data close up photo of survey spreadsheet Teaching Module: T-tests and Climate Data
selective focus photo of plants Reading: The Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Effect Video/Micro Lecture: Amitav Ghosh on Literary Fiction
How Yukon glaciers are responding to climate change Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Regression Analysis of Global Temperature Data
Video/Micro Lecture: Amitav Ghosh on the Politics of Climate Change Reading: What is the Anthroposphere?
Visualization: Infrared Spectra of Greenhouse Gases Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Modeling Temperature Data by using Trigonometric Functions
Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Permafrost and Climate Change Video/Micro Lecture: ‘The Great Derangement’: A conversation
Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Linear Regression on Arctic Ice Data Reading: General Circulation Models of Climate
Video: Noam Chomsky on Climate Education Policy Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Statistical Methods to Determine Trends in Hurricane Intensity
Audio: Climate Change, Capitalism, and Communism in Arctic Communities Mobile App: Glaciers of the World
white clouds E-Learning Course: Atmospheric Science Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Statistical Methods to Determine Historical Temperature Trends
Model/Simulator: Milankovitch Orbital Parameters Video: Indian Monsoon
Teaching Module: Introduction to Statistics through Weather Forecasting Video: Trade Winds
Reading: Simple Atmospheric Model ethnic group of people moving in street Reading: Population Demographics In A Warming World
coronavirus statistics on screen Classroom/ Laboratory Activity: Statistical Methods Using Temperature Data E-learning Course: Integrating Gender in Climate Projects
Video: Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere Video/Microlecture: Climate Change and Biology Education
climate posters fight outdoors Video/ Microlecture: Human Cognition and Climate Denial Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Modeling the Effect of Changes in Radiation on Planetary Temperature
Mobile App: Climate Literacy turned on monitor displaying frequency graph Classroom/ Laboratory Activity: Polynomial Differentiation Using Temperature Data
Video: Upwelling unrecognizable asian man in traditional orange cloth on beach Video/ Microlecture: Multi-level Impacts of Climate Change on Mental Health
person pointing paper line graph Classroom/ Laboratory Activity: Teaching Polynomial Differentiation with Arctic Sea Ice Data Reading: Climate Change and the Humanities
body of water under gray clouds E-learning Course/ Reading: ‘The Discovery of Global Warming’ herd of white and black cows on grass field Reading: Biogeochemical Cycles
road landscape nature sky Reading: ‘Move, Adapt or Die’ Audio: Imagining Climate Change
volcano1257 Video: Volcanic Eruptions, Climate Change, and Food Crises Reading: Human Migration and Displacement
Audio: Geopolitics of Climate Change food summer garden agriculture Video: Gene Editing in Tomato Plants
Climate Change, Infectious Disease and International Conflict brown shovel Reading: GM Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa
Video: Chomsky on Tackling Climate Change Game: Understanding Climate Vulnerabilities and Building Climate Resilience
close up of leaf Reading: Insect Behaviour and Temperature Variation bank banking banknotes business Video/Microlecture: Introduction to Climate Change Economics
Video: Economics of Climate Change with William Nordhaus, Nobel Laureate (2018) adult book boring face Video/Microlecture: Global Warming and Sleep Deprivation
white airplane Audio/Reading: Air Travel and Carbon Offset man jumping on intermodal container Teaching Module: Economic Trade-offs
seaport during golden hour Classroom/ Laboratory Activity: Climate Change and Trade Policies Reading: Economics and Global Climate Change
cutout paper composition with graphic and hand with bills Audio: Climate Action and Capitalism Reading: Overview of the “Stern Review: The Economics of Climate Change”
person woman laboratory medicine Classroom/ Laboratory Activity: Using Isotopes to Measure Temperatures Reading: The COVID-19 Pandemic, Recession and Economic Policies
Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Carbon Dioxide and Photosynthetic Rates Reading: Naomi Klein on Capitalism and Climate Change
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A guidebook of gender-sensitive approaches to climate change policy for city planning. It discusses the different ways in which women and men are affected by climate change. This guidebook includes discussions on gender inequalities such as gender division of labour, gender differentials in income, gender biases in decision making, and other factors contributing to climate vulnerability.

Students will understand how climate change impacts genders differently. They will also learn the importance of gender sensitivity in formulating climate change policies. Students will be introduced to gender sensitive climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience in cities.

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

  1. How does climate change affect genders differently?
  2. Give a few reasons why climate change policies should use a gender-sensitive approach
  3. What are the priorities for gender-sensitive climate policies at urban levels?

About the Tool 

Tool Name Gender and Urban Climate Policy: Gender-Sensitive Policies Make a Difference
Discipline Humanities, Social Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline Gender, Gender and Climate Change, Gender Inequality, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Climate Change Policy, Climate Vulnerability
Climate Topic Climate and Society, Policies, Politics, and Environmental Governance
Type of Tool Reading
Grade Level Undergraduate, Graduate
Location  Global
Language English
Translation –
Developed by Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development 
Hosted at Giz, UN Habitat, Gender CC 
Link Reading Link
Access Online, Offline
Computer Skills Basic

 

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