Sizing Up the Lake Erie Dead Zone
Provided by: Michigan Sea Grant|Published on: December 12, 2024|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Biology
Authors: Michigan Sea Grant, Center for Great Lakes Literacy
Location: North America > United States > Michigan > Southeast Michigan
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
- In this lesson, students will observe data for Lake Erie's temperature and oxygen content to find dead zones.
- Students will analyze data, answer questions, and annotate maps to understand hypoxic conditions in Lake Erie.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The data sheet is easy to follow.
- Students will be engaged throughout the inquiry-based activity.
Prerequisites
- The handout says this is Lesson 4, but this can work as a stand-alone lesson.
- Teachers will need to define the terms hypoxic and anoxic before beginning the lesson.
Differentiation & Implementation
- To support scientific writing, students can practice citing information from the data to support their answers on the handout.
- After completing this lesson, students can discuss how climate change will impact dead zones.
- Students can choose a Lake Erie species and research and report on the impact dead zones in the central basin will have on them.
- Students can also research additional impacts of pollution, climate change, and temperature rise on Lake Erie's ecosystems.
- Consider using this activity as a part of the lesson linked here.
This resource will allow students the chance to analyze and interpret data, which is a vital skill for understanding climate change. One specific note to teachers, I do believe that on the answer key for question 8, the order of the stations from coldest to warmest is supposed to be reversed. I calculated the average temperatures of the stations and it was the opposite of what is listed in the answer key for that question. Otherwise, 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.
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