Data and Graphing Lesson: Climate Art
Lesson Plan
1 hourGrades4, 5Mathematics, Visual and Performing Arts
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Written by Lindsey Pockl
About this lesson
In this lesson, students read and interpret data on average global temperature, practice skills with decimals and fractions, make line graphs, and create line graph climate art.
Inquire: Students learn about artist Jill Petro who uses data to make climate art.
Investigate: Students read and interpret data from a chart, understand tenths, and make a line graph.
Inspire: Students use their line graph to make a piece of climate art, using Jill Pelto as inspiration.
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Suggestions
- Students use a bar graph to create a line graph that includes a title, an x-axis label, a y-axis label, data points, and a line connecting the data points.
- Displayed data shows decimals to the tenth place. For further alignment to 4th grade standards, decimals could be displayed as fractions; ie, 0.2 as 2/10.
- Displayed data in the Investigate section is in Celsius which some students may not be familiar with. Teachers can briefly explain how it is similar and different to Fahrenheit, using an anchor marker of freezing temperature: 0 degrees Celsius = 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Displayed data shows negative numbers. Students may not have a mathematical understanding of negative numbers, but teachers can explain that negative means below zero and connect with students’ lived experiences such as temperature.
- This lesson aligns with with Australian science standards ACSSU075 and ACSHE062, and Visual Arts Standards ACAVAR113 and ACAVAR117
Prerequisites
- Students should have a basic understanding of reading data and why graphs are useful tools to view data.
- Students should have a basic understanding of place value and decimals, namely the tenths place.
- Teachers should pull up the Our World in Data climate change charts website and have it ready to display the “Global temperature anomalies by month” chart. Teacher will need to set the adjustable x-axis to the year 2010 for the first chart, and around 1980 for the second chart. Teachers can pre-select a specific month.
- Teachers will need graph paper with a grid size best suited to their classroom needs.
Differentiation
- Students can use their own devices to explore the global temperature data, comparing different time ranges or comparing different months. Students can pick two different months within the same range and make two line graphs on the same graph in two different colors.
- Students can collaborate when creating their line graphs or be grouped with varying levels of logical-mathematical intelligence and spatial-visual intelligence.
- Line graphs can also be created using technology tools, including iPads or Chromebooks.
From the scientist review
This lesson builds students' data analysis and research skills. Students learn how to use data to create an appealing artwork that can explain and raise awareness on climate change impacts. All materials are properly sourced, and datasets for analysis are accurate. The lesson has passed our science credibility process.
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About the teacher writer
Lindsey Pockl
Lindsey worked with SubjectToClimate to develop accompanying materials for lesson plans for grades 3-12.
