Extreme Weather 101
Provided by: The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)|Published on: May 20, 2021|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Videos
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)
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 online course about extreme weather and climate change includes videos, descriptions, interactive quizzes, links to additional information, and handouts.
- The course consists of 11 self-paced sections on topics such as droughts, extreme precipitation, Atlantic hurricanes, and extreme heat.
- Students may be able to complete the entire course in one to two hours.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The basics of climate change and weather, regional trends in the United States, and the difference between global warming and climate change are great for students of any subject.
- The short videos use graphics, data, and visuals to make the material more accessible.
- The quizzes help students to check their understanding and provide real-time feedback when students select the wrong answer.
Prerequisites
- This course requires users to sign up for the online course provider, Udemy using an email address. If teachers do not want students to sign up for Udemy, they can project the videos for the class and answer the quiz questions as a group.
- The Regional Climate Trends section links to the National Climate Assessment report from 2014. A newer report offering more up-to-date information is available.
- Many of the sections include links to extra resources, which users can access by clicking on the Resources drop-down button next to the video titles in the course content sidebar.
Differentiation & Implementation
- This content could be used for adult learners, clubs, parents, or anyone interested in learning the basics about climate change.
- During the Regional Climate Trends section, teachers could break students into regional groups and have them summarize the main effects of climate change for each region. Each group could present the information on their region to the class.
- Students could choose one of the extreme weather toolkit handouts and use the information to make an infographic on extreme weather preparation. The finished infographics could be displayed in the school, or digital copies could be posted online.
- Other resources on this topic include this video on how attribution scientists have found links between climate change and extreme weather, this lesson on local and global extreme weather events, and this TED-Ed video on how extreme weather impacts coastal communities.
The resource contains basic information on weather extremes, climate, and regional climate trends, and provides tool kits. Students will be able to gain a deeper understanding on the relationship between weather and climate events, how they cause natural disasters, and better ways to prepare for extreme conditions. The resource is suitable 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.
Learn about our review process →
