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Direct Impacts of Climate Change

Driving Question: How is climate change affecting natural systems?

How are rising global temperatures directly tied to changes in Earth’s natural systems? This lesson explores why every fraction of a degree matters in shaping climate outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Identify and describe direct impacts of climate change.
  2. Analyze a direct impact to understand it’s effects and potential future consequences.
  3. Explain why small amounts of warming are significant when it comes to climate impacts.

Vocab Terms:

  • biomes
  • climate model
  • direct impacts
  • sea-level rise
  • temperature anomaly
STEP 1

Opener: Direct Impacts of Climate Change

Teaching Tips

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of Lesson 2.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

New to teaching about climate change? Join our online teacher community External link .

STEP 2

Measuring Impacts

Teaching Tips

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of Lesson 2.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

Explore the Climate Project Infographics Guide External link for some tips for using infographics in the classroom.

How much of an impact can half a degree really have? Study the infographic to see how a seemingly small temperature increase can make a big difference, and then complete the writing activity to make a case for why each fraction of a degree matters.

STEP 3

Climate Impacts Data

Teaching Tips

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 4 of Lesson 2.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

Our Data Literacy Guide External link provides a summary of strategies to help students read the data, read between the data, and read beyond the data – check it out!

Read the article to explore some of the numbers behind the impacts of rising temperatures on one natural system. Then, do your own research and investigate a direct impact of your choice.

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Note: For more detailed directions on reading charts, refer to A Guide to Reading Charts.

STEP 4

Climate Maps

Teaching Tips

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 6 of Lesson 2.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

For more detailed directions for reading charts check out A Guide to Reading Charts. External link

STEP 5

Closer: Direct Impacts of Climate Change

Teaching Tips

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 8 of Lesson 2.2 Teaching Guide Locked .

Think about the ways many different systems are interconnected and can be impacted by climate change, and what that means for you and your community.