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Author

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication

Grades

6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th

Subjects

Science, Social Studies, Mathematics

Resource Types

  • Lesson Plans
  • Worksheets
  • Charts, Graphs, and Tables
  • Activity - Classroom, 30 minutes

Regional Focus

North America, United States

Format

PDF

Decoding the Data

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Synopsis
  • In this activity, students interpret graphical data from the Yale Program on Climate Change's Six Americas Super Short Survey and answer questions about the information. 
  • The activity includes a PDF for educators that contains lesson objectives, tips, and an answer key. 
Teaching Tips

Positives

  • The student worksheet PDF is a fillable form, so students can type their answers directly in the answer blanks.
  • The student worksheet contains questions that require critical thinking and thoughtful reflection.
  • This activity will work well as a written activity, a discussion, or both.

Additional Prerequisites

  • Teachers may want to go over the Global Warming's Six Americas with the class before starting the activity.
  • Teachers may want to share the student worksheet electronically so that students can click on the links.

Differentiation

  • Art classes could use question #15 from the student worksheet as a prompt for artwork. Students could look at Jill Pelto's artwork for inspiration.
  • After completing the activity, students could give the Six Americas Super Short Survey to their family members, friends, or other members of their community to see which audience they fall into.
  • Other resources on this topic include this data analysis activity on coral bleaching and this SubjectToClimate lesson plan that teaches students how scientists and mathematicians use data and statistics to understand climate change.
Scientist Notes
Using data from SASSY, this resource provides students with the opportunity to analyze and dissect graphical information. This is a qualitative method and this resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
  • College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
    • Dimension 1: Developing Questions and Planning Inquiries
      • D1.1.6-8 Explain how a question represents key ideas in the field.
      • D1.1.9-12 Explain how a question reflects an enduring issue in the field.
    • Dimension 4: Communicating and Critiquing Conclusions
      • D4.2.6-8 Construct explanations using reasoning, correct sequence, examples, and details with relevant information and data, while acknowledging the strengths and weaknesses of the explanations.
  • Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
    • Reading: Science & Technical Subjects (6-12)
      • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.7 Translate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text into visual form (e.g., a table or chart) and translate information expressed visually or mathematically (e.g., in an equation) into words.
  • Common Core Math Standards (CCSS.MATH)
    • Statistics & Probability: Making Inferences & Justifying Conclusions (9-12)
      • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSS.IC.A.1 Understand statistics as a process for making inferences about population parameters based on a random sample from that population.
      • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSS.IC.A.2 Decide if a specified model is consistent with results from a given data-generating process, e.g., using simulation. For example, a model says a spinning coin falls heads up with probability 0.5. Would a result of 5 tails in a row cause you to question the model?
      • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSS.IC.B.6 Evaluate reports based on data.
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