WICCI Trends and Projections

• This resource includes a brief description of future climate projections in Wisconsin and includes numerous downloadable climate maps and a link to an interactive mapping tool.
• The downloadable maps include historic data and projected changes in temperature and precipitation in Wisconsin.
• The link to the mapping tool allows students to choose a location and discover how the climate may change by the year 2080.

Positives

• While reviewing these maps, students will build their scientific literacy skills as they notice trends over time and describe how data can be used to tell a story of regional climate change impacts.
• There are multiple maps with variables changing just slightly, so students can compare and contrast climate change impacts over seasons, between regions of Wisconsin, and between night and day.

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should understand the concept of percent change when reviewing data.
• Point out map titles and their respective abbreviations prior to having students look at the maps to eliminate confusion.

Differentiation

• Before reviewing the data, look at Wisconsin on a map and ask students to predict how temperature and precipitation may change in this region due to climate change.
• To help students grasp the importance of using data when answering scientific questions, have students work in groups to write three scientific questions that this data could help answer.
• Have students utilize the linked mapping tool and freely explore the map to discover how different U.S. regions' climates may look in 2080.
• These maps can be studied in a jigsaw format, with each student or group of students answering questions and reporting out about a different map or category of maps.
• As an extension activity, have students write a paragraph to summarize why climate modeling is important for regional climate change planning.