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.