Citizen Science - Understanding Climate Change And Phenology - Years 7 & 8

Activity Introduction

Quick summary: Students are introduced to the topics of climate change and phenology. Students begin by brainstorming what they already know about climate change and then watch a clip to explore the issue further. Students then create a mindmap to explore how climate change might affect biodiversity, and watch another clip that shows how the science of phenology can be used to help us understand how climate change is impacting on biodiversity.

The lessons in this unit have been developed in partnership with Earthwatch. Earthwatch developed the ClimateWatch program with the Bureau of Meteorology and The University of Melbourne to understand how changes in temperature and rainfall are affecting the seasonal behaviour of Australia’s plants and animals.

Learning intentions:

Students know how climate change impacts biodiversity.
Students are able to relate the study of phenology to wider environmental impacts.

21st century skills:

Australian Curriculum Mapping

Content descriptions:

Year 7 Science

Communicate ideas, findings and evidence based solutions to problems using scientific language, and representations, using digital technologies as appropriate (ACSIS133)

Year 8 Science

Communicate ideas, findings and evidence based solutions to problems using scientific language, and representations, using digital technologies as appropriate (ACSIS148)

Syllabus outcomes: SC4-9WS.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.1, OI.2.

Relevant parts of Year 7 Science achievement standards: Students communicate their ideas using scientific language and appropriate representations.

Relevant parts of Year 8 Science achievement standards: Students use appropriate language and representations to communicate science ideas.

Topic: Biodiversity, Climate Change.

Unit of work: ClimateWatch: Citizen Science – Science – Years 7 & 8, ClimateWatch: Citizen Science – Geography and Science – Years 7 & 8.

Time needed: 60 minutes.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee activities and lead students in discussion.

Resources required: Internet, laptops and earphones, Student Worksheet – one copy per student, butcher’s paper (optional).

Key words: Earthwatch, ClimateWatch, climate change, biodiversity, phenology.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher preparation

Learning intentions:

Students know how climate change impacts biodiversity.
Students are able to relate the study of phenology to wider environmental impacts.

Success criteria: Students can…

... identify some of the causes, processes and consequences of climate change.
... explain how climate change might affect biodiversity.
... define the term phenology in their own words.
... describe, in their own words, how the science of phenology can be applied to understanding the impacts of climate change on biodiversity.
... describe some examples of altering phenology affecting the way plants and animals persist/continue to exist.

Teacher content information: ClimateWatch is a citizen science initiative developed by Earthwatch that seeks to educate people from across Australia on the issue of climate change and empower them to contribute to solutions. Through its ClimateWatch program, Earthwatch works with educators to help them bring their expe

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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: How might climate change affect the seasons?

What is Climate Change?

Spend 1 minute writing down as many things as you know about climate change:

As a class you will watch a clip about climate change. As you watch, you should make notes about anything interesting or important you see in the clip.

Once complete, team up with a classmate to answer the following questions (note: you can discuss your ideas in your pairs; however each student needs to record their own answers):

1. What things did you find interesting or important about this clip?

2. How did this clip help to explain climate change to you?

3. What questions do you now have about climate change?

What is Phenology?

As a class you will watch a clip about phenology. As you watch, you should make notes about anything interesting or important they you see in the clip.

Once complete, team up with a classmate to answer the following questions (note: you can discuss your ideas in your pairs; howe

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Activity: Citizen Science – Understanding Climate Change And Phenology – Years 7 & 8