Protect Peatlands
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12, AP
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: Project Drawdown
Location: Earth
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 interactive article defines and explores the climate solution of peatland protection as a part of an overall sustainability plan to protect these natural carbon sinks.
- Students will be introduced to peatlands' role in sequestering carbon, specifics about boreal, temperate, subtropical, and tropical peatlands, infographics, and interactive calculators.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- Helpful sidebars present numerical data with easy-to-understand graphics and include a call to action for students.
- The information is formatted like a scientific paper, with a clear cause-and-effect framework.
Additional Prerequisites
- Since vocabulary is rigorous, a definition list or graphic organizer would be appropriate.
- Students should be familiar with measurements in hectares and Gigatons.
- Students should have some prior knowledge of climate change and sustainability.
Differentiation
- This article is only one in a large series of climate solutions, and there are many links to related solutions, so teachers can assign small-group research projects.
- Probability and statistics connections can be made in math classes, as there are several data points to evaluate adoption scenarios and effects on the climate.
- Students in English classes can use the article to evaluate the author's purpose, introduce scientific writing styles, or as practice for reading more complex scientific papers.
This article introduces peat, and peatlands, and explains why they are an important part of our climate system. It then walks through a study looking at what impact increasing peatlands on our planet will have on carbon emissions and stores. The article is organized similar to a scientific paper in the way it breaks down this climate solution into an introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion sections. The limitations of the study are also included. These make this resource a good example of how scientific articles are often structured. Resources are included. The information presented 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 →
