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Author

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Grades

6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Subjects

Science, Physics, Earth and Space Sciences, Health

Resource Type

  • Videos, 5 minutes, 37 seconds, CC, Subtitles

Regional Focus

North America, United States, USA - Northeast, New Jersey

Format

YouTube Video

NJClimateWeek: Rising Temperatures

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Synopsis
  • This informative video from New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection details the causes and effects of dangerous heat waves in New Jersey. 
  • Students will learn about how much heat waves are expected to increase, how increased temperatures will impact the environment, that heat-related deaths are projected to increase, how "heat island" effects will disproportionately impact already vulnerable populations, and the various steps the state of New Jersey and New Jersey residents can take to stay safe and combat these temperature increases. 
Teaching Tips

Positives

  • This video delivers a plethora of information about how heat waves impact New Jersey and what can be done to combat the problem. 
  • Multiple stakeholders appear in the video, giving students a variety of viewpoints regarding the challenges faced and solutions posed. 

Additional Prerequisites

  • Students should have an understanding of climate change and rising temperatures. 

Differentiation

  • Cross-curricular connections can be made in civics and economics classes by discussing how the increased temperatures impact society in different ways. 
  • This resource would be an excellent component in a study of New Jersey's changing climate. Discussion questions could include:
    • What measurable changes have been recorded regarding New Jersey's climate? 
    • How do those changes compare to other places? 
    • What action items are suggested to combat rising temperatures? Which seem the easiest to accomplish? Which will need more work or resources? 
  • As an extension, have students choose one actionable item from the solutions portion of the video and find a way to advocate for those changes to be made in their communities or at large. 
  • Other related resources include this article about heat, this video about how climate change is impacting different aspects of New Jersey, this resource about urban heat islands, and this video about the benefits of urban trees. 
Scientist Notes
This video spotlights the impact of rising temperatures in New Jersey. Aside from causing extreme weather events, rising temperatures also accelerate heat-related illnesses in vulnerable populations. Taking climate actions, such as switching to clean energy and adopting green infrastructure, are viable solutions to combat heat stress, pollution, and climate change. This resource is ideal for teaching.
Standards
  • Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
    • ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
      • MS-ESS3-4 Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.
      • HS-ESS3-1 Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
  • College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
    • Dimension 4: Taking Informed Action
      • D4.6.6-8 Draw on multiple disciplinary lenses to analyze how a specific problem can manifest itself at local, regional, and global levels over time, identifying its characteristics and causes, and the challenges and opportunities faced by those trying to address the problem.
      • D4.7.6-8 Assess their individual and collective capacities to take action to address local, regional, and global problems, taking into account a range of possible levers of power, strategies, and potential outcomes.
      • D4.6.9-12 Use disciplinary and interdisciplinary lenses to understand the characteristics and causes of local, regional, and global problems; instances of such problems in multiple contexts; and challenges and opportunities faced by those trying to address these problems over time and place.
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