Abstract:
Climate models are tools that scientists have developed to help predict the future climate of our planet based on different scenarios of human impacts to the atmosphere. The last ice age occurred because of a drop of only a few degrees in global temperatures, so even small temperature increases are a concern. In this lesson, students will learn about climate models, experiment with their own climate model, and investigate how climate models are used to predict how species distributions may change as the planet warms. Prior to engaging in this lesson plan, students will need to have a general knowledge of greenhouse gases, the
greenhouse effect, and global warming.
Target Group: Primary
Subject/Strand: Science, Earth Science, Life Science