What was tried in the classroom?
All year students have been learning through slow reveal graphs. I used an animated slow reveal graph that showed the average monthly global surface temperatures from the 1880’s to 2024. Initially, students were not shown any specific details, but noticed that the lines on the graph stayed in the same area until something affected the trajectory of the lines. After receiving more data, as is the nature of a slow reveal graph, students noted that starting in 1980, the lines began their upward climb, every year surpassing the prior year’s path. Students analyzed the graph, noting that huge irreversible changes happened within the last 40 years. After students viewed the graph and discussed why global temperatures would be important, we watched a video on the Greenhouse Effect. Students had many questions and at that time, I realized that they knew very little about climate change and the effects it will have on their generation and the generations to follow. More needs to be done in this area of student understanding.
How’d it go?
Students were very engaged in the animated graph. They pulled out the information I was looking for them to notice: that the average global temperature has steadily increased since the 1980’s. As they didn’t have much background knowledge on this, we watched a video that gave them more information. We had a great discussion afterwards where students continued to ask questions about climate change and what can be done. Reflecting on this experience, I would like to do this graph and video set again next year, but earlier in the school year so that I have time to give them more information and ways to change things at our school’s level. It was concerning to me that the majority of them did not feel that climate change would or does have a direct impact on them or their futures. More work needs to be done in this area. As I teach math, I will be working on more ways to bring climate change into my block period.
Resources
NASA Slow Reveal graph used
NASA Space Place Video on Greenhouse Gases
ClimeTime Training
EarthGen’s Climate Emotions and Creative Expressions STEM Seminar
Classroom
School: Haller Middle School
District:Alington School District
Teacher: Danene Seversonย
