Consequences of Less Ice on Lakes Due to Climate Change
Articles/Websites
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
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 →
Provided by Michigan Public Radio
What it is
- This article covers the environmental and societal consequences of less ice on the Great Lakes.
- Students will learn the importance of lake ice for cultural activities, animal habitats, and greenhouse gas production.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The article provides a short summary of key findings as bullet points, making it easy for students to read and understand.
- The article allows for SEL and Justice connections, as students can share their own experiences with lake ice and consider cultural value of the lake ice.
Prerequisites
- Younger students may not have encountered the terms nitrous oxide or cyanobacteria before and may need them defined.
- Students will need computers to access the article, or the teacher will need to print copies for them.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Teachers can ask students to share the importance of winter lake ice to them, inviting students to share personal memories and culturally significant practices.
- This article can be used as a phenomenon in a science lesson about how changes to the environment affect biodiversity.
- This article can be used to talk with students about the water cycle by discussing how open water would cause more lake-effect snow.
- Older students can extend their learning by reading the original scientific study in Science.
From the scientist review
This resource offers a concise summary of a review article focused on a consequence of climate change from the journal Science. Based on a scholarly source, this resource is further cited through numerous news reports linked throughout. This resource is clear, accessible to any reader, and is recommended for teaching.
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