Linear Trends in Sea Ice Data
Lesson Plans
Grades9, 10, 11, 12Mathematics
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Polar Bears International
What it is
- In this lesson, students will interpret trend lines to determine if sea ice loss is due more to chance or factors like climate change.
- Students will observe data, generate a best-fit line, and interpret the significance of the data.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This lesson includes an engaging area graph that helps students see the ice physically change throughout time.
- This is a quick lesson that should fit in one class period, depending on students' familiarity with the subject matter.
Prerequisites
- Teachers should note that pages 5-8 are an answer key.
- Students may benefit from having this region presented on a world map.
- Students may also need some more information about climate change to understand the connection.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Teachers can follow this lesson with this one to connect sea ice loss with global climate change.
- Before sharing their best-fit line with the class, students can check with a partner to see if their lines are similar.
- Some students may benefit from having a coin near them or having a teacher demonstrate the coin flip scenario.
From the scientist review
In this lesson, students learn about probability and trends through looking at sea ice data. The worksheet does attribute sea ice loss to climate change, but students may need clarification or more information depending on their familiarity with climate change. The answer sheet includes suggested resources. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
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