This lesson takes a look at some of the ways that climate change may directly affect the life of a Michigander. It includes several opportunities for discussion about student’s observations and their connection to data. Using an internet-based weather forecasting tool for Michigan, students will complete an activity that allows them to visualize how several climatic changes will affect their lives.

At the conclusion of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Describe three different climatic changes that scientists are predicting for Michigan
• Provide examples of how those changes will affect their and their families day-to-day lives
• Draw conclusions based on maps and simplified data
• (For more advanced students) Use internet tools and data to make predictions about additional climate scenarios

Resources:

• Michigan climate change lesson plan
• Changing climate powerpoint
• Michigan climate change activity pages
• Internet resources

Lesson written and created by GK-12 fellows Tyler Bassett, Sara Garnett, and Cara Krieg, 2012