Students learn about Earth's energy balance and use data to better understand why the Arctic is warming faster than other locations on Earth. This comes from analyzing and interpreting incoming and outgoing energy data from the Arctic and constructing conceptual models to explain how outgoing longwave energy from the Arctic is contributing to the Arctic amplification.
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The ice cream/asphalt/grass video is very well done and is a good way to illustrate the concept in an understandable, local way. Teachers should consider showing it to students.
It would strengthen the lesson to add a little more information about the connection between surface temperatures that students experience and Arctic amplification, as discussed in the introductory video.
Teachers may want to have students share what they discovered in solving the data puzzle.
Data is used from CERES satellites to provide real-world examples for students to interpret. Background materials are available and the activity is great as an introduction or deep dive into data, budgets, and modeling.
This activity addresses the question of why the Earth is getting warmer. Students answer this question by examining data recorded by scientists. The data used is all cited from credible sources.
Students learn first what is meant by the term "energy budget", then seek to discover why the Earth's budget is out of balance, by studying real scientific data on the Earth's short and long wavelength energy.
Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.
The lesson, slide show, and teacher/student worksheets are all available, including supplemental videos to show students. The teacher's guide is well laid out and helps with sequencing and ideas for connecting topics.
Students are able to engage with current scientific data to figure out problems.
No prerequisite is needed.
The activity targets visual, auditory, and read/write learners.
The presentation of the objective as a "data puzzle" will likely create strong student engagement.
This resource is clear, easy to use, and has all of the available materials ready to use.
The inclusion of the slide deck is very convenient and useful.
There are plenty of supporting links.
The only tech needed to employ the activity is a shared screen to show the slide deck and the opening video.
All student materials can be printed if needed.
There is no cost, the activity is easy to use and the teacher guides are complete.
