Mapping a Personal Story of Environmental Change
Provided by: Arctic & Earth SIGNs|Published on: November 20, 2025
Grades: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Type: Activity - Classroom
Subjects: Geography
Authors: Arctic & Earth SIGNs
Region: Alaska
Languages: English
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
- In this assignment provided by CLEAN, students will work to create maps that tell a story about how climate change or social changes have impacted a place that is important to them.
- The example maps for this assignment are for Alaska, but this resource can be used in classrooms worldwide for many locations.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- By thinking of climate change in terms of local change, students will better be able to feel the gravity of the issue.
- This activity encourages students to channel their creativity and their experiences, keeping them engaged in the learning.
Prerequisites
- It may help students complete the map if they have already participated in discussions about how climate change is impacting areas familiar to them.
- Students should be familiar with maps and their features.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Because all the instructions and background information are on the worksheet handout, this assignment may work as an emergency sub plan activity that teachers can keep on hand. Teachers may want to just add a note that students should wait on Step 5, taking a photo of their map and sending it to the Arctic and Earth SIGNs team, until the teacher returns.
- Advanced students can work with ArcGIS or Google Maps to create an interactive map of change.
- Teachers can inspire students to turn their maps into data art, similar to those created by Jill Pelto.
This activity teaches students about maps and how to use them to tell a story and send a message. The focus of this activity is to have students use maps to describe changes they have noticed in a place they know well, and explore how these changes are connected to climate change. The example map project discusses climate changes in Alaska, specifically related to permafrost and sea ice. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
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