Updating search results...

Climate Science for Middle School

A collection of resources that teach about the scientific aspects of climate change, including both life and earth sciences. Image credit United Nations

575 affiliated resources

Search Resources

View
Selected filters:
Climate Science in a Nutshell: Where Does Carbon Dioxide Come From?
Read the Fine Print
Rating
0.0 stars

This short video discusses where carbon dioxide, the gas that is mainly responsible for warming up our planet and changing the climate, comes from. It discusses how the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide comes directly from the burning of fossil fuels and indirectly from the human need for energy.

Subject:
Applied Science
Atmospheric Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Physical Science
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Planet Nutshell
Utah Education Network
Date Added:
09/24/2018
Climate Science in a Nutshell: You Can Make a Difference
Read the Fine Print
Rating
0.0 stars

This short video makes the case that rapid climate change affects the whole planet, but individuals can make a difference and make their carbon footprint smaller. Common suggestions are identified for young children to consciously consider what they can do.

Subject:
Applied Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Physical Science
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Planet Nutshell
Utah Education Network
Date Added:
09/24/2018
Climate Simulator
Read the Fine Print
Rating
0.0 stars

This is a simulation that illustrates how temperature will be affected by global CO2 emission trajectories. It addresses the issue that even if global emissions begin to decrease, the atmospheric concentration of CO2 will continue to increase, resulting in increased global temperatures.

Subject:
Geoscience
History
History, Law, Politics
Physical Science
Material Type:
Simulation
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Cai Ellis
Duncan Clark
Mairead O'Connor
Richard Bangay
Rosie Roche
The Guardian
Date Added:
10/27/2014
Climate Time Machine
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

This series of four animations shows how some of the key indicators of climate change (average global temperature, sea level, sea ice extent, carbon emissions) have changed in Earth's recent history.

Subject:
Applied Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Oceanography
Physical Science
Material Type:
Diagram/Illustration
Reading
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
NASA
Date Added:
05/13/2015
Climate Wisconsin Adaptation-Mitigation
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

This short, animated video describes what is meant by climate, its characteristics, and the range of impacts due to climate change. The difference between mitigation and adaptation is also discussed.

Subject:
Applied Science
Atmospheric Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Physical Science
Material Type:
Diagram/Illustration
Reading
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Finn Ryan
Threehouse Media
Wisconsin Educational Communications Board
Date Added:
08/29/2012
Climate Wisconsin: Extreme Heat
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

This short video addresses the effects of heat waves on human populations, with Black residents of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the visual subjects. The narrative is done by a young spoken- word artist.

Subject:
Applied Science
Atmospheric Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Physical Science
Material Type:
Diagram/Illustration
Reading
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Climate Wisconsin
Wisconsin Educational Communications Board
Date Added:
05/15/2012
Climate Wisconsin Ice Cover
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

This is an interactive graph that involves records of ice cover in two Wisconsin lakes - Lake Mendota and Lake Monona - from 1855-2010.

Subject:
Applied Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Physical Science
Material Type:
Reading
Simulation
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Finn Ryan
Pitch Interactive
Scott Pauli
Wisconsin Educational Communications Board
Date Added:
08/29/2012
Climate Wisconsin: Stories From a State of Change
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

This video provides background information and teaching tips about the history and relevance of phenology and seasonal observations of plants and animals within the context of rural Wisconsin.

Subject:
Applied Science
Biology
Career and Technical Education
Ecology
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Life Science
Physical Science
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts
Date Added:
06/19/2012
Climate change: How do we know?
Read the Fine Print
Rating
0.0 stars

This static graph of changes in CO2 concentrations goes back 400,000 years, showing the dramatic spike in recent years.

Subject:
Atmospheric Science
Physical Science
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
NASA
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date Added:
10/27/2014
Cloudy vs. Clear
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

Students analyze and interpret graphs to compare the flow of shortwave energy from the Sun toward China over the course of a year on cloudy versus clear days.

Subject:
Applied Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Physical Science
Physics
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Ashwinraj Ravindran
Jessica Taylor
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Date Added:
06/11/2020
Collisional Heating
Read the Fine Print
Rating
0.0 stars

This visualization shows the molecular interaction of infrared radiation with various gases in the atmosphere. Focus is on the interaction with C02 molecules and resultant warming of the troposphere.

Subject:
Applied Science
Atmospheric Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Physical Science
Material Type:
Simulation
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
A. Martin
B. Martin
D. Eymundson
K. Genuis
King's Centre for Visualization in Science
Mahaffy
T Keeler
Date Added:
08/17/2018
Colorado and a Warming Planet
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

This video highlights a variety of climate change research initiatives from scientists at the University of Colorado, Boulder. It describes the changing dynamics of Antarctic ice sheets and the impacts of reduced Arctic sea ice. The video illustrates the excitement of this research through interviews and video clips of scientists in the field.

Subject:
Applied Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Oceanography
Physical Science
Material Type:
Diagram/Illustration
Reading
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Learn More About Climate
University of Colorado at Boulder
Date Added:
05/08/2013
Colorado's Forests and the Pine Beetle Epidemic
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

This video features CU Boulder Professor Jeff Mitton and his research team, who study the effects of mountain pine beetle infestations on the forest ecology in the Rocky Mountains. They explain the pine beetle life cycle and how they attack trees. An outlook into the future is also provided.

Subject:
Applied Science
Biology
Career and Technical Education
Ecology
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Life Science
Physical Science
Material Type:
Diagram/Illustration
Reading
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Office of University Outreach at the University of Colorado Boulder
Date Added:
08/29/2012
Combating Global Warming Mind Map
Read the Fine Print
Rating
0.0 stars

An attractive concept/mind map that illustrates various human strategies for responding to climate change. It was developed by a psychologist and not by an educator or scientist but can be used to inspire discussion and artistic representations of the human dimension to climate and energy issues.

Subject:
Applied Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Physical Science
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Media Learning Fundamentals
Date Added:
08/17/2018
Compact Fluorescent and LED Cost-Benefit Analysis
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

In this activity, students collect data and analyze the cost of using energy in their homes and investigate one method of reducing energy use. This activity provides educators and students with the means to connect 'energy use consequences' and 'climate change causes.' Through examining home energy use and calculating both pollution caused by the generation of electricity and potential savings, students can internalize these issues and share information with their families.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Connecticut Energy Education
Date Added:
06/19/2012
Comparison of the Effects of Increased CO2 in the Air to Seawater and Distilled Water
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

This well-designed experiment compares CO2 impacts on salt water and fresh water. In a short demonstration, students examine how distilled water (i.e., pure water without any dissolved ions or compounds) and seawater are affected differently by increasing carbon dioxide in the air.

Subject:
Applied Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Oceanography
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Simulation
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Annika Sabrowski
CarboSchools.org
Patrick Silva
S. Soria-Dengg
Date Added:
06/19/2012
Contribution of the Cryosphere to Changes in Sea Level
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

This web page from the National Snow and Ice Data Center contains two related visualizations and supporting information about them. The first visualization gives an estimate of the percent contribution to sea level change since the 1990s from three contributors - small glaciers and ice caps, the Greenland Ice Sheet and the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The second visualization shows the cumulative contribution to sea level from small glaciers and ice caps plotted with the annual global surface air temperature anomaly.

Subject:
Applied Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Oceanography
Physical Science
Material Type:
Reading
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
M.F. Meier
Mark Dyurgerov
National Snow and Ice Data Center
Date Added:
08/29/2012
Cool Cores Capture Climate Change
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

This Earth Exploration Toolbook chapter is a detailed computer-based exploration in which students learn how various climatic conditions impact the formations of sediment layers on the ocean floor. They analyze sediment core data from the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica for evidence of climate changes over time. In addition, they interact with various tools and animations throughout the activity, in particular the Paleontological Stratigraphic Interval Construction and Analysis Tool (PSICAT) that is used to construct a climate change model of a sediment core from core images.

Subject:
Archaeology
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Studies
Oceanography
Physical Geography
Physical Science
Social Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Earth Exploration Toolbook/TERC
Jean Pennycook
Date Added:
06/19/2012
Coping With Climate Change: Green Roofs of Chicago
Read the Fine Print
Rating
0.0 stars

A set of eight photographs compiled into a series of slides explain how urban areas are facing challenges in keeping both their infrastructure and their residents cool as global temperatures rise. Chicago is tackling that problem with a green design makeover. This report is part of PBS's Coping with Climate Change series and could challenge students to consider engineering designs to help their own cities be greener.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Simulation
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Public Broadcasting System (PBS) Newshour
Date Added:
09/24/2018
Coral Bleaching: A White Hot Problem
Read the Fine Print
Rating
0.0 stars

This teaching activity addresses environmental stresses on corals. Students assess coral bleaching using water temperature data from the NOAA National Data Buoy Center. Students learn about the habitat of corals, the stresses on coral populations, and the impact of increased sea surface temperatures on coral reefs. In a discussion section, the connection between coral bleaching and global warming is drawn.

Subject:
Applied Science
Biology
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Life Science
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Bridge Project - NOAA Sea Grant and National Marine Educators Association
Laura Rose
Lisa Ayers Lawrence
Date Added:
06/19/2012