5 Graphics Explain the Climate-Fire Feedback Loop
Articles/Websites
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
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Provided by Global Forest Watch
What it is
- This resource from Global Forest Watch uses graphics to explain how wildfires are exacerbated by climate change and also further exacerbate climate change, creating a self-perpetuating feedback loop.
- Students will look at charts, graphs, and maps to see how climate conditions and fires affect each other.
Teaching tips
Positives
- Some of the graphics have interactive components, which will keep students engaged and interested.
- This resource is organized in a way that makes the content easy for students to follow and find.
Prerequisites
- Students should understand that carbon is stored in trees and that photosynthesis removes carbon from the air and stores much of it in plants.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Teachers can post the different graphics and their descriptions around the room and have students go around to them in stations. The second graphic will need to be displayed with an internet connection, as it is interactive.
- If there is limited class time, teachers can have groups of students analyze one of the graphs and report their findings to the rest of the class in a jigsaw format.
- After reading the article, students can discuss ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Students can also look into wildfire management strategies. For example, students can look into prescribed burns using this lesson.
- To make connections to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, teachers can ask students to analyze how, in this case, addressing Goal 13, Climate Action, can help to address Goal 3, Good Health and Well-Being, and Goal 15, Life on Land.
From the scientist review
The climate-fire feedback loop is presented in a graphic model and then supported by several relevant data sets. This resource is exceptionally well-sourced with numerous recently published news and peer-reviewed journal articles cited. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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