Climate Change and Plants
Activity - Classroom
GradesK, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5Science
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by NJ Agriculture in the Classroom
What it is
- In this hands-on experiment, students will monitor the growth and characteristics of potted plants throughout a four-week period to see the effects of drought and flooding conditions on the plants.
- The background section is based on New Jersey information and there are suggestions for crop plants grown in NJ to make it more locally relevant.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This is a simple experiment that students can monitor throughout the weeks as they go through the curriculum.
- The lesson also includes an extension activity for students to learn about New Jersey agriculture.
Prerequisites
- The link to the ebook, From the Garden State to Your Plate: Farming Fruits and Vegetables in New Jersey, is broken, but you can access the book here.
- Students should know what plants need to survive and the basic parts of a plant.
- Teachers will need to prepare plants or seeds before running the experiment.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Students can practice scientific journaling as they monitor the growth of the plants.
- After the lesson, students can discuss how to protect plants from climate change.
- Students can discuss why biodiversity is increasingly important as climate change puts plants at risk.
- To make language arts connections, students can write poems or practice descriptive imagery to illustrate how the plants have changed or remained the same.
- Students can discuss how other climate change factors, such as increasing temperatures and invasive species, will impact plants.
From the scientist review
This resource clearly illustrates the effect of droughts and floods caused by climate change on agriculture through a classroom plant project. The background on climate change is excellent and state-focused. The resource does not cite a source for the warming in New Jersey since 1900, but a quick search proves the claim is true. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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