NJ Ag Lessons on Climate Change
Provided by: NJ Agriculture in the Classroom|Published on: May 22, 2024|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Science, Social Studies
Authors: NJ Agriculture in the Classroom
Location: North America, North America > United States, North America > United States > New Jersey
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 →
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 →
Synopsis
- This collection of seven lesson plans will introduce elementary students to the effects of climate change on New Jersey, farms in NJ, and how they can help.
- Students will create models to illustrate the greenhouse effect, sea level rise, and the impact of droughts and floods on plants, then make compost with plant matter from home, learn about adaptations in New Jersey's agriculture, and learn things they can do to stop global warming.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- All lessons do an excellent job of introducing new vocabulary in the text, aiding student comprehension.
- Students will love the engaging hands-on activities and experiments.
Additional Prerequisites
- There is an optional activity in the lessons for students to read part of the book Understanding Climate Change, Facing a Warming World by Melissa McDaniel.
- Students should know the states of matter and what plants require to survive.
- Some experiments require clay, heat lamps, seeds, and soil.
Differentiation
- After doing the sea level rise experiment, older students can research adaptation strategies for coastal communities facing the impacts of the changing shoreline.
- If teachers have enough materials, older students can experiment independently or in groups instead of as a whole class.
- Students can make community connections by visiting a local farm or their high school's agriculture department.
- After viewing the New Jersey Farming and Climate Change PowerPoint, students can research the effect of heat waves on people who work outdoors.
This webpage provides teachers with background information about climate change and related lessons. All lessons have an activity and connect directly to climate change or its impacts in New Jersey. Lesson topics include the greenhouse effect, sea level rise, agriculture, composting, and what students can do to make a difference. These lessons have also been reviewed for accuracy. The information is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
