El Niño 101

Videos

Grades3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8Earth and Space Sciences

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by National Geographic

Open Resource

What it is

This video introduces the El Niño weather phenomenon and includes information about its causes and effects.
The CLEAN database page summarizes the video, teaching tips, and background about the content and pedagogy.

Teaching tips

Positives

This short and informative video is an excellent introduction to the basics of El Niño.
The simple language and visuals make this resource accessible for various learning levels and styles.

Additional Prerequisites

Teachers need to click the video link or the "Jump to this Video" button to view the video.
The video includes loss of life as an effect and shows images of extreme weather damage, which may upset some students. Teachers may want to pair this video with SEL resources like this digital poster.

Differentiation

Teachers can follow this video with a conversation about how communities can better prepare and what students can do to feel more empowered to take action.
Science classes can use this video as an introduction to a unit on weather conditions, natural disasters, or regional climates.
Civics classes can discuss how different communities can advocate for mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Students can discuss how climate change exacerbates some of El Niño's effects, such as marine life migrating to colder waters.
History classes can further research historical occurences of El Niño events.
Many students may benefit from slowing the video playback speed to comprehend the wealth of information.

From the scientist review

This resource is from the CLEAN collection. “The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness."

How we review resources

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At a glance

Grades: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Format: YouTube Video
Language: English
Location: Earth, North America, South America
Provider: National Geographic
Authors: National Geographic
Published: November 13, 2023
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · D2.Geo.12.3-5 + 6 more

Core

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards

D2.Geo.12.3-5Explain how natural and human-made catastrophic events in one place affect people living in other places.

Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.3Summarize the points a speaker makes and explain how each claim is supported by reasons and evidence.

Maine Climate Education Hub

English Language Arts

SL.6-8.2Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.

Science and Engineering

3-ESS2-2Obtain and combine information to describe climates in different regions of the world.
4-ESS3-2Generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural Earth processes on humans.
5-ESS2-1Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact.
MS-ESS2-5Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.

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Teaching tips

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