Paleoclimate Timeline
Data, Graphs, and Maps
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences
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Provided by LabXchange
What it is
- This interactive timeline explains how scientists reconstruct Earth's climate history from before global temperature records began, introducing the field of paleoclimatology.
- Students explore nine lines of evidence, including the modern temperature record, tree rings, glacier positions, lake sediments, ice cores, ocean sediments, landforms, corals, and sedimentary rocks, each with the time span it covers and the climate clues it holds.
Teaching tips
Prerequisites:
- Ensure students are familiar with the geologic time scale.
- Consider defining the term climate and differentiating between climate and weather, if necessary.
Classroom Implementation:
- Use this resource as an introduction to paleoclimatology. Have students explore the evidence types in jigsaw groups, utilizing the resources linked below the initial description.
Related Resources:
- This interactive game is an excellent resource for students to apply what they have learned from this timeline and explore the concepts in an engaging way.
Extensions:
- Have students compare the time spans of the different records and discuss why scientists need multiple, overlapping lines of evidence.
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