Potato Farming in Maine's Changing Climate Module
Lesson Plans
Grades5, 6, 7, 8Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
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 Gulf of Maine Research Institute
What it is
- This module of four lessons for middle school students has learners examine the changing climate conditions in Maine and how this might affect potato farmers.
- Students will analyze climate and agricultural data, design a desirable potato, play a board game which models farmers' decisions based on crop yields for different varieties of potatoes through changing climate conditions, and consider how breeding different varieties of potatoes could result in a climate resilient potato.
- Each lesson has a teacher guide, slides, a worksheet, and supporting learning resources.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This activity is well-paced and scaffolded for a middle school science class and supports students throughout the four lessons.
- The lessons include a variety of methods for gathering evidence and scientific knowledge, including map analysis, reading, videos, and modeling through games.
- There is a focus on solutions, with students designing a climate-resilient potato.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should understand basic agricultural and biological terms such as breeding, traits, adaptation, and growing conditions.
- Students should be able to work cooperatively in a group to play a modeling board game.
Differentiation
- For reading assignments, provide reading scaffolds by assisting in vocabulary definitions, supporting students in determining main ideas, and offering sentence starters during discussions.
- While students are designing their climate-resilient potatoes, consider talking students through cause and effect so that they can effectively match an adaptive solution with the climate-induced problem.
- During lesson three, when students play a modeling board game, it may be helpful to have additional adults moderate the small groups as they play to ensure they understand the key takeaways.
- Utilize the comprehensive Teacher's Guide for extension activities, discussion questions, and additional facilitation tips.
From the scientist review
This resource uses the case study of potato farming in Maine to demonstrate resilience in the face of climate change. Included figures are easy to understand, and all have sources cited. This resource introduces students to how crops are adapted to face a changing climate in an interactive way and is recommended for teaching.
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