Evidence of Climate Change

Hands-on activities make abstract climate science tangible for students. Tracking trends on graphs, simulating ice cores, and modeling sea-level rise transform data into visible, memorable evidence. Active learning helps students move from passive acceptance to confident analysis of reliable sources.

• Grade 6
• Science
• 4 activities
• 35 min–50 min

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze graphs of global average temperatures over the past century to identify trends.
2. Compare data from ice cores, such as trapped gas concentrations and isotopic ratios, to infer past climate conditions.
3. Evaluate the reliability of different data sources for climate change evidence, such as peer-reviewed scientific journals versus online forums.
4. Explain how scientists use climate models to simulate past climate and predict future scenarios.
5. Calculate the potential sea-level rise based on given data for glacial melt and thermal expansion.

Gallery Walk

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

Gallery Walk: Climate Data Stations

Prepare stations with temperature graphs, ice core images, sea-level charts, and model predictions. Small groups visit each for 7 minutes, annotate evidence strength, then share findings in a class debrief. Extend by having groups defend one data type's reliability.

Prepare & details

Analyze different types of scientific evidence that support the reality of climate change.

Facilitation Tip: For the Gallery Walk, place each data station near a window or wall with clear, labeled graphs so students can move without crowding.

Setup: Wall space or tables arranged around room perimeter

Materials: Large paper/poster boards, Markers, Sticky notes for feedback

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Case Study Analysis

⏱ 35 min·Pairs

Ice Core Layering Simulation

Provide trays with colored salts and ice layers to mimic cores; students add 'CO2' markers by era. They excavate, record gas trends over time, and graph results. Discuss how cores provide proxy data for past climates.

Prepare & details

Evaluate the reliability of various data sources used to study climate trends.

Facilitation Tip: During the Ice Core Layering Simulation, have students wear gloves and use clear straws to layer colored sand carefully to avoid spills.

Setup: Groups at tables with case materials

Materials: Case study packet (3-5 pages), Analysis framework worksheet, Presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Case Study Analysis

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

Sea-Level Rise Watershed Model

Build simple coastal models with sand, water, and rising 'ocean' levels using syringes. Groups measure inundation at different elevations, calculate impacts, and predict changes from data trends. Photograph before-and-after for reports.

Prepare & details

Explain how scientists use models to predict future climate scenarios.

Facilitation Tip: In the Sea-Level Rise Watershed Model, assign roles so each student measures water height and records changes every two minutes to keep the activity on track.

Setup: Groups at tables with case materials

Materials: Case study packet (3-5 pages), Analysis framework worksheet, Presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Case Study Analysis

⏱ 45 min·Whole Class

Climate Model Debate Relay

Divide class into teams representing data sources; relay questions on predictions like temperature rise. Teams consult models, cite evidence, and vote on most reliable forecast. Conclude with consensus statement.

Prepare & details

Analyze different types of scientific evidence that support the reality of climate change.

Setup: Groups at tables with case materials

Materials: Case study packet (3-5 pages), Analysis framework worksheet, Presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Teaching This Topic

Start with the Gallery Walk to build curiosity about different data types before diving into simulations. Research shows that comparing peer-reviewed data first helps students recognize gaps in less reliable sources. Avoid overwhelming students with too much data at once, but do challenge them to notice patterns across stations. Use the Ice Core Simulation to make time scales concrete, since students often struggle with the difference between seasonal and millennial changes in climate records.

What to Expect

Students will explain how multiple types of evidence connect to human-caused climate change. They will evaluate data sources critically and use models to test predictions against observed patterns. Successful learning shows up as clear links between activities, evidence, and explanations during discussions and written work.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During the Ice Core Layering Simulation, watch for students who assume CO2 spikes are always natural.

What to Teach Instead

Use the simulation’s timeline cards to overlay industrialization data, and have students graph CO2 levels against human activity timelines to see the correlation directly.

Common Misconception

During the Gallery Walk, watch for students who treat all data sources as equally trustworthy.

What to Teach Instead

At the source evaluation station, provide calibration labels and ask students to compare error margins and peer review status on each poster before ranking reliability.

Common Misconception

During the Climate Model Debate Relay, watch for students who dismiss models as inaccurate.

What to Teach Instead

Have teams test their climate model predictions against historical sea-level and temperature data before presenting, so they see how models refine with real evidence.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After the Gallery Walk, provide students with three short descriptions of climate evidence sources: a peer-reviewed journal article abstract, a blog post from an advocacy group, and a government scientific report summary. Ask students to rank them from most to least reliable and briefly explain their reasoning for one ranking.

Exit Ticket

After the Ice Core Layering Simulation, on an index card, have students write one specific piece of evidence for climate change (e.g., rising CO2 levels from ice cores). Then, ask them to write one sentence explaining how scientists collect or interpret this evidence.

Discussion Prompt

During the Climate Model Debate Relay, pose the question: 'If a climate model predicts a significant temperature increase by 2100, what are two types of real-world data scientists might use to build confidence in that prediction?' Facilitate a brief class discussion, guiding students to connect models with observational data from the Sea-Level Rise Watershed Model.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students who finish early to predict future sea-level rise using their model data and compare it to a NOAA projection graph.
• For students who struggle, provide pre-labeled graph templates during the Gallery Walk to guide their data interpretation.
• Deeper exploration: Have students research how Indigenous knowledge systems incorporate climate observations and compare them to scientific data from the Ice Core Simulation.

Key Vocabulary

Greenhouse Gas	Gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat, such as carbon dioxide and methane. Increased concentrations contribute to global warming.
Ice Core	A long cylinder of ice drilled from glaciers or ice sheets. It contains trapped air bubbles and layers that provide information about past atmospheric composition and climate.
Sea-Level Rise	The increase in the average level of the world's oceans. It is caused by melting glaciers and ice sheets, and the thermal expansion of seawater as it warms.
Climate Model	A computer simulation that uses mathematical equations to represent the Earth's climate system. Models help scientists understand past climate and predict future changes.
Proxy Data	Indirect evidence of past climate conditions, such as tree rings, ice cores, and sediment layers, used when direct measurements are unavailable.