Direct Impacts of Climate Change
Teacher Resources
Driving Question: What are the direct impacts of climate change?
How is climate change affecting Earth’s natural systems? In this lesson you’ll learn about the direct impacts of climate change including extreme weather events, rising sea levels, wildfires, droughts, and flooding. Everyone will experience the effects of these direct impacts, but these impacts will affect some communities and ecosystems more than others.
- Identify and describe direct impacts of climate change including sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and global temperature increase.
- Using evidenced-based research, describe how the direct impacts of climate change are experienced in different parts of the world.
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Guiding Questions
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Observe
Skim the full infographic, paying attention to things like prominent colors, numbers, charts, and types of text. How do you know where to start and which direction to read? How do you know what numbers are most important? What concept is the focus of the graphic? What big questions do you have?
Understand
- Will everyone experience the effects of warming temperatures equally? Why or why not?
- How will half a degree difference affect conditions on land?
- How will half a degree difference affect our oceans?
Connect
- Choose one of the five direct impacts covered in the graphic. Will this change have any impacts on your life or your community? How?
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Guiding Questions
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Note: For more detailed directions on reading charts, refer to A Guide to Reading Charts.
Skim
Before you read, you should quickly skim the article, by looking at the headings of each section and the charts. Read the questions below as well, so you know what to look for when you read!
Key Ideas
- According to Chart 1, how have global sea levels changed over the last 1,000 years?
- What correlation is suggested by Chart 2?
- According to Chart 3, how has the rate of global sea-level rise changed in the last 150 years? Where does this data come from?
- According to Chart 4, what will determine how much sea levels rise over the next century?
- What do the two maps tell you about the importance of this direct impact for human communities around the world?
Evaluate
- Sea-level rise is only one type of direct impact of climate change, but it is connected to several other direct impacts. What other direct impacts of climate change do you think will be made worse as sea-level rises? How so?
Understanding the Impacts of Climate Change
How do we know that climate change is impacting our planet? This video explores some of the worst direct impacts of climate change and some dangerous tipping points humanity must avoid.
Key Ideas
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Guiding Questions
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Before you watch
Before you watch the video, it’s a good idea to open and skim the video transcript. And always read the questions below so you know what to look and listen for as you watch!
While you watch
- Where is most of the heat from the greenhouse effect retained on Earth?
- How has our ability to predict the impacts of climate change improved since the 1970s?
- According to this video, what is one inaccurate prediction that has been made in the past about climate change?
- What is a tipping point, and what is one example used in this video?
After you watch
- Did this video change your understanding of the direct impacts of climate change? Which direct impact do you think is most threatening to humans?
