Project Overview:
In this project-based learning unit, students will learn about climate change and how scientists use proxy data to understand past climates. They will research different types of proxy data, evaluate their use, and understand their implications in predicting future climate change.
Learning Objectives:
- Students will understand the concept of proxy data, how it is used to study historical climate, and its significance in climate change studies.
- Students will learn about, identify, and explain various types of proxy data such as tree rings, ice cores, and fossil records.
- Interpret proxy data to understand past climates and relate it to current climate changes.
- Analyze and discuss the implications of proxy data on predicting future climate changes.
- Improve research, presentation, and collaborative skills.
Materials Needed:
- Computer with internet access for research
- Access to scientific articles and databases
- Poster board, markers, and other creative materials for presentations
- Software for creating digital presentations (PowerPoint, Google Slides, etc.)
Possible Online Resources:
What Are Proxy Data? (2022). National Centers for Environmental Information. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/what-are-proxy-data
Tree Rings Provide Snapshots of Earth’s Past Climate. (2017). Stoller-Conrad, J. Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet.
https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2540/tree-rings-provide-snapshots-of-earths-past-climate/
About Ice Cores. (2023). National Science Foundation: Ice Core Facility. U.S. Geological Survey.
https://icecores.org/about-ice-cores
The Project:
Week 1
Day 1-2: Introduction to Climate Change and Proxy Data
- Provide an overview of climate change, the greenhouse effect, and the role of human activities in climate change.
- Introduce the concept of proxy data. Explain how they are used to infer information about past climates.
- Discuss the different types of climate proxies (tree rings, ice cores, ocean sediments, coral reefs, etc.).
Day 3-5: Research and Exploration
- Divide students into small groups and assign each group a different type of proxy data to research.
- Each group should look into: the type of information their assigned proxy provides, how it’s collected and interpreted, and a historical example of its use in climate change studies.
Week 2
Day 6-7: Interpreting Proxy Data
- In their groups, students will analyze actual proxy data (available from various online sources like NOAA) to make inferences about past climates.
- They should come up with conclusions about climate change patterns based on the data they have analyzed.
Day 8-10: Presentations and Discussions
- Each group will prepare a presentation on their proxy data, explaining their research, interpretation of the data, and its implications for climate change.
- Encourage other groups to ask questions, fostering a discussion environment about proxy data’s validity, challenges, and implications.
- Discuss how understanding past climate can help us predict and mitigate future climate change.
Assessment:
- Participation in class discussions and group work (20%)
- Quality and depth of research (30%)
- Interpretation of proxy data (25%)
- Quality and content of the final presentation (25%)
Extension Activities:
- Write a reflective essay on the importance of proxy data in climate change science and policy-making.
- Debate on the validity and reliability of various proxy data.
- Explore career paths in climate change research, focusing on the use of proxy data.
Standards:
This project aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for High Schools, particularly:
- NGSS-MS-ESS3-5: Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
- NGSS-MS-LS2-3: Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and energy flow among living and non-living parts of an ecosystem.
- NGSS-MS-ESS2-6: Develop and use a model to describe how the Earth’s unequal heating and rotation cause atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns that determine regional climates.
- Common Core State Standards for ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.7: Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).
Note – This activity was created with assistance from ChatGPT 4.0 using the following prompts:
- Create a project-based learning lesson plan for secondary students on the use of proxy data that address and teaches about climate change.
- Create a lesson plan for secondary students on using proxy data that addresses, discusses, and teaches about climate change. Provide standards if they are available.
- Can you share where the materials for this lesson can be located?
In addition, the suggested activities were also reviewed, vetted, edited, and supplemental materials were added.