Overview
In this lesson, students use a "data snapshot" model to look at temperature and precipitation data since 2000. This is a great lesson to discuss features of maps, especially the color scale and what the different units mean. In the temperature maps, students are comparing current data each year to a prior 30 year average represented as 0. In the precipitation maps, students are comparing current data each year to a prior 30 year average represented as 100%.
In the model there are sensors on 5 major cities in the Great Lakes, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Buffalo. The data is recorded in CODAP and students can use the graphing feature to see how the amount changes in different cities over a number of years.
In the next lesson they look at the long term changes, so this lesson really focuses on understanding how to read the maps, what information they are getting from the maps, and looking over time at a particular city or month to see if they can determine any trends.
Underlying Pages
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0. Student Directions -
Preview as Student
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1. Data Snapshot Tool -
Preview as Student
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards
- Earth and Space Sciences
- NGSS Crosscutting Concept
- NGSS Practice
Computational Thinking in STEM
- Data Practices
- Modeling and Simulation Practices
- Systems Thinking Practices
Credits
Climate.gov data snapshot
