Positives

• This resource provides large amounts of data and maps, so teachers may choose which and how many variables to address.
  
• The lesson provides an excellent way to scaffold students' interpretation of the environmental condition maps through discussions and observations.

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should be familiar with basic weather and environmental characteristics such as air temperature, cloud cover, vegetation, and precipitation.
• Students should be able to read a map of the United States and understand how data can be represented by color scales on a map.
• The resource includes image cards, answer keys, Google Slides for educators, and a downloadable PDF of the lesson plan.

Differentiation

• Teachers should consider spending some time interpreting sample map data as a whole group to ensure that students understand how to read and analyze the data for the activity.
• It is recommended to first have students analyze data in the location nearest to where they live, as they already have an understanding of local weather patterns.
• The lesson is customizable based on how many conditions and locations are analyzed. For a shorter lesson, teachers can select one environmental condition or location and for a longer lesson, students can analyze multiple conditions or compare multiple locations.
•  Teachers can structure this as a jigsaw activity by assigning groups of students to different conditions or locations to analyze. Then, each group can present its findings to the class and the class can discuss comparisons.