As More Roads Become Rivers, Communities Search for Solutions

Positives

• The photographs bring a sense of reality to the topic, especially for students living inland who may be unable to picture the damage caused by flooding.
• The article features many personal stories and quotes from people dealing with flooding.

Prerequisites

• Students should understand how climate change contributes to sea level rise.
• Flooding may be a heavy topic for students who live in coastal areas. Teachers should ensure that students feel safe to process big emotions that may come up.

Differentiation & Implementation

• Students can learn more about the salt marshes and the importance that the article references by completing this 5-lesson unit on the impacts of climate change on Connecticut salt marshes.
• This article can introduce the broader topic of "short-term self-interest" getting in the way of effective adaptation and mitigation.
• Students in geography classes can analyze the map linked in the reading by clicking on the viewer for Sea Level Rise Effects on Roads and Marshes.
• Students can form a mock city planning committee and evaluate the consequences of implementing adaptations to combat flooding in one area.