Heat: Planetary Balance
Provided by: Probable Futures|Published on: January 31, 2022|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Ebooks
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, English Language Arts
Authors: Probable Futures
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 →
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
- This digital text details the climate characteristics of three different periods in Earth's history: the Late Cretaceous (Dinosaur Earth), Pleistocene (Icehouse Earth), and Holocene (Holocene Earth).
- After reading, students will understand that current climate on Earth is a delicate balance and how drastically different the climate has been in the past.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- Students have the option to listen rather than read, which is an excellent differentiation tool.
- This resource is broken down is a very reader-friendly and easy to understand way.
- The images of ice-cover can help students imagine what the Earth may have looked like in the past.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should have a basic understanding of climate change and the difference between weather and climate.
Differentiation
- This resource lends itself well to a whole-class discussion comparing and contrasting the three climates explained. A guiding question could be, "What are some observable differences between Dinosaur, Icehouse, and Holocene Earth?"
- As an extension activity, have students research one of the distinct balances that contributes to Holocene Earth.
- The read-aloud feature could be a great way to introduce this resource to ESL learners or students with learning differences.
- Other related resources include Workings of Heat, A Tour of Temperature, and Maps of Temperature.
This resource explores planetary time scales from the Cretaceous era and Holocene epoch. This is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
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.
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