• Students read an adapted scientific article about climate conditions in Texas and how climate models can help farmers and water suppliers better prepare for future conditions.
• The article introduces students to the effects of climate change on the frequency and intensity of droughts in Texas and the importance of preparing for prolonged droughts in advance.

Positives

• The article also explains how the research can be used by those most affected by droughts, proving the value of scientific research.
• A glossary of key terms is included at the end of the article.
• The resource also includes additional lesson ideas and related articles

Additional Prerequisites

• Teachers must fill in a form with their name, email, and school information to access the teacher's key.
  
•  Students should know how to read and interpret line graphs before reading the article.
• The only part of this lesson that may require access to the Internet is the final comprehension question, which requires students to research.

Differentiation

• It may be helpful for some students to use the audio version of the article, found at the bottom of the webpage.
• This resource can also be used in health classes and economics classes during lessons about how extreme weather events can affect health and economies, respectively.
• To encourage critical thinking, have students answer the last comprehension question without research and correct themselves accordingly after researching the answer.
• More advanced students can read the original academic paper and use the references section to research the topic further.
• Use these lab activities to learn more about the causes and effects of droughts and how to reduce water stress.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.