Lesson 1. Phenomena: Climate Trends in the Great Lakes

Lauren Levites, Umit Aslan, Shruti Researcher
Biology, Environmental Science
50 min
High School
v4

Overview

Students begin the unit with a phenomena: 2 maps that show projections for precipitation and temperature in the Great Lakes.

Using these maps, they identify major trends for the Great Lakes region in the next 30 years. They will then use a Driving Question Board to ask and categorize questions they have about this phenomena. By categorizing their questions, they will ideally have some that will intersect with future lessons. 

It is best to begin lessons 2-10 with student questions that are applicable to the content or skills in those lessons. 

Standards

Next Generation Science Standards
  • Earth and Space Sciences
    • [MS-ESS2-4] Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
  • NGSS Crosscutting Concept
    • Patterns
    • Energy
    • Stability and Change
  • NGSS Practice
    • Analyzing Data
    • Constructing Explanations, Designing Solutions
    • Using Models
    • Conducting Investigations
Computational Thinking in STEM
  • Data Practices
    • Analyzing Data
    • Collecting Data
    • Visualizing Data
  • Modeling and Simulation Practices
    • Using Computational Models to Understand a Concept
    • Constructing Computational Models
  • Systems Thinking Practices
    • Understanding the Relationships within a System

Activities

  • 1. Temperature in the Great Lakes
  • 2. Precipitation in the Great Lakes
  • 3. Changes in temperature and changes in precipitation.

Student Directions and Resources


How will the Great Lakes region's climate change in the coming years? Using the maps in this lesson, you will determine what the major trends are that will be seen in the future. 

We will then try and figure out why these trends are occurring throughout the rest of this unit. 

1. Temperature in the Great Lakes


About this map:
Projected increases in annual average temperature by 2041-2070 as compared to the 1971-2000 period, assuming emissions of greenhouse gases continue to rise (A2 scenario). Northern areas will likely see greater warming by mid-century. The Eastern Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan may see particularly significant changes.
 


Question 1.1

Describe 3 things you notice on the temperature map above.



Question 1.2

This map is comparing a future prediction for 2041-2070 to the average of which years?



Question 1.3

What unit is temperature measured in on this map?

  Degrees C
  Degrees F


Question 1.4

What trend do you notice about the predictions for 2041-2070? What will happen to temperature?



Question 1.5

Which areas will have a higher temperature increase?



Question 1.6

How much change in average temperature will the Chicago region experience?

2. Precipitation in the Great Lakes


About this map:
Projected increase in total annual precipitation by 2041-2070 as compared to the 1971-2000 period, assuming emissions of greenhouse gases continue to rise (A2 scenario). Projections of precipitation are highly variable by location, individual model, the timeframe considered. Total annual precipitation is generally projected to increase across the region, but may remain nearly stable or decrease in parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Northern Wisconsin, and Northern Minnesota. 


Question 2.1

What unit of precipitation is this map communicating?

  millimeters
  inches


Question 2.2

This map is comparing predictions for 2041-2070 to the average of which years?



Question 2.3

Which area(s) is most likely to have the largest precipitation increase?



Question 2.4

In which areas might precipitation remain fairly stable?



Question 2.5

How much change in average precipitation will the Chicago region experience?

3. Changes in temperature and changes in precipitation.



Question 3.1

How might temperature be related to precipitation?



Question 3.2

How might one of these (change in temperature or change in precipitation) impact another factor in the system?



Question 3.3

Develop 3-5 questions you have after looking at these 2 maps. Questions can be about the data, variables, reasons for these trends, etc.



Question 3.4

In the Great Lakes system, there are multiple factors that influence the weather and climate. For example, large bodies of water would be 1 factor, make a list of 5-7 factors in the system.



Question 3.5

Do you think these changes in temperature or precipitation are equal throughout the year? If not, what times of year do you think there will be larger changes in temperature or precipitation?