Data Exploration: Direct Impacts of Climate Change
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Provided by: OER Project|Published on: February 26, 2025
Articles/WebsitesScientist Reviewed
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this article from OER, students will read about sea level rise as an example of a direct impact of climate change.
- Students will explore how human activity has caused a rise in temperatures, how that rise has led to land and sea ice melting, and the relationship between these impacts and sea level rise.
Subjects: Physics, Geography
Authors: OER Project: Climate
Region: United States, Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This resource walks students through the process of looking at different data and seeing their connections.
- The resource also does an excellent job of explaining that seemingly small and insignificant changes can compound over time and lead to big impacts.
Prerequisites
- Some students, especially those who live in coastal areas, may become anxious when talking about sea -evel rise. Teachers should prepare for this and provide students with a safe space and strategies to process big feelings.
- Students should understand thermal expansion.
Differentiation & Implementation
- After reading about sea-level rise, students can learn about the other direct impacts of climate change, such as drought, floods, extreme weather, and forest fires.
- Teachers can assign a coastal city to one student or a pair of students and have them use the linked tools, such as the Sea Level Rise Viewer to determine challenges that city will face, depending on the sea-level rise scenario.
- Students can extend their study of sea-level rise with the Sea Level Rise Student Lab, which contains videos, interactives, and articles to explore the topic.
This is an excellent primer on sea level change as a result of global warming. All sources cited are credible, relevant, and functional. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
OER Project
OER Project equips teachers with free, innovative curricula and teaching tools that spark curiosity and inspire critical thinking in students. Our courses place student inquiry at the center of learning, and are designed to be adaptable across age levels and state standards.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
