State of Our Union: Deciphering the Data
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: History, Mathematics
Authors: Population Education
Location: North America > United States
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 data analysis activity, students will analyze graphs and various data visualizations to understand the intermingling of both good and bad aspects of the conditions in the United States throughout history.
- Students will learn how to use data to answer and generate questions and how to fit multiple pieces of data together to get a more complete understanding.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The overarching theme in this activity, making decisions based on what the data says rather than what those around you say, is a valuable sentiment to live by.
- This activity requires students to work together and encourages civil disagreements amongst students, which will ultimately deepen student engagement and understanding.
Prerequisites
- Students should already know how to read graphs and charts.
- Teachers will need to use a color printer to print the student sheets.
Differentiation & Implementation
- After looking at their piece of data, students may benefit from meeting with students who looked at the same piece, discussing some key ideas, and then meeting with those that looked at different data pieces.
- Language arts teachers can have students use these graphs as source material for writing informative essays on related topics.
- Some students may need extra time and assistance to find additional data pieces. These students may benefit from links to reputable and relevant sources.
This lesson teaches students how to decipher and interpret different graphs of data. Four of the provided graphs focus on the environment, specifically waste disposal, environmental laws, forests, and global warming. 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.
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