Climate Connections
Exploring Actions that Affect our World in 2100
Chris Andersen, Shenendehowa CS, Clifton Park NY
Mary Margaret Small, Mark Huber, Susan E. Powers,
Clarkson University Potsdam NY
May 2011
Details
Type: Integrated unit with five separate activities that build upon each other.
Length: 8 – 10 class periods
Content Area/Course: Earth science, Geography
Targeted Grade Level: 6-12 (adaptable)
Prerequisite Knowledge: General concept of greenhouse gas emissions and resulting climate changes. Basic world geography
Prerequisite Skills: Google Earth (can develop this skill through project), general internet navigation
Technology/web resources: Google Earth, Internet access
Thinking skill development: Comprehension, synthesis, evaluation
NASA resources used: Global climate modeling results from IPCC DDC database (GISS ER); NASA GISS Surface Temperature Analysis
Description
Students work through a role play activity and ecological footprint calculator to assess their own impact on the earth, as well as those of their role play character. The information is used to identify a scenario for our world’s future greenhouse gas emissions. Intergovenmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) climate model results are used to evaluate what the world will be like in 2100. Students see how simple changes in their own lifestyles can affect the impact of their carbon foot print. The IPCC model result component of this unit can be adapted to the student level. Younger students can look at maps (included here) of temperature anomalies that have already been modeled and plotted as contours. Older students can retrieve these maps or the data directly from IPCC web site for a closer and more quantitative analysis. The information and interpretation are integrated into a Google Earth file and are presented by each student.
Resources
Materials for Activities:
Game Sheet and Personal Choice Cards
SRES Scenarios Summary and Point Sheet
Lecture Support Materials:
SRES Scenarios PowerPoint Presentation
Links to External Resources:
Ecological Footprint Calculator
IPCC, 2000. Special Report on Emissions Scenarios
IPCC, 2007. Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report








