ARTICLE

Constructing an Argument: Climate

Students will learn how to create a good scientific argument in the context of climate. They will continuously encounter questions that ask them to make a claim, explain their answer, rate their certainty with their answer, and explain that rating.

Grades

7 - 12+

Subjects

Earth Science, Climatology

Image

Global Temperature Anomalies 1880-2012

Global Temperature Anomalies 1880-2012e

NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies

Content Created by

This activity is part of a sequence of activities in the What Is the Future of Earth's Climate? lesson. The activities work best if used in sequence.

Preparation

Materials you provide: computers with internet connection
Required technology: internet access

Teaching Approach

Inquiry-based learning

Teaching Methods

Self-directed learning
Self-paced learning
Writing

Skills Summary

Critical Thinking Skills
Creating

Directions

Tell students that Activity 1 (Constructing an Argument) of the lesson What is the Future of Earth's Climate? introduces the structure of the scientific argumentation they will be asked to do in the rest of the lesson.

Tell students that Activity 1 will give them practice with analyzing a data set and making a good scientific argument from the evidence. Encourage students to review the questions and example best answers provided in Activity 1 before starting on the current activity.

claim

verb

to state as the truth.

evidence

noun

data that can be measured, observed, examined, and analyzed to support a conclusion.

solar

adjective

having to do with the sun.

solar flare

noun

explosion in the sun's atmosphere, which releases a burst of energy and charged particles into the solar system.

sunspot

noun

dark, cooler area on the surface of the sun that can move, change, and disappear over time.

temperature

noun

degree of hotness or coldness measured by a thermometer with a numerical scale.

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other

Last Updated

December 9, 2024

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