Understanding Global Change
Provided by: BioInteractive|Published on: October 6, 2025
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Activity - Classroom
Subjects: Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: BioInteractive, University of California Museum of Paleontology
Region: Global
Languages: English, Spanish
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 tool from BioInteractive allows students to model causal connections within and between Earth's systems.
- The resource also includes educator materials, examples, and a downloadable app.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This tool is user-friendly and easy to work with.
- The intro to the tool is also student-friendly, offering pop-up definitions for terms, engaging infographics, and reader-friendly text.
Prerequisites
- Students should have a strong understanding of Earth's systems and how they are related.
- Teachers can find an educator guide and other materials along the right sidebar.
- This tool and its related materials are also available in Spanish.
- To see the Ocean Acidification Model example, teachers will need to download the app; however, this example may still not be visible for teachers.
- Downloading the app is necessary for exporting and importing models, but not for using the tool.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Teachers can use this tool as an assessment for an extensive unit on the causes of climate change and how it impacts Earth's systems. This resource can help teach students about the causes of climate change, and this one may help cover some of the impacts.
- This tool can be used for students to demonstrate their understanding of the connections within one system, such as the connections between glacial melt and sea level rise. For example, teachers can use this tool to assess students' understanding of this lesson.
- To make connections to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, students can create models to demonstrate how two of the goals, such as Goal 3, Good Health and Well-Being, and Goal 13, Climate Action, are interrelated. If students are unfamiliar with the SDGs, teachers can check out this Curriculum Guide to find materials that suit their needs.
- To get students moving, teachers can print the icons available in the right sidebar and project the image of the tool on a whiteboard. Then, teachers can invite students to place the icons and draw arrows on the whiteboard, articulating the connections out loud.
This resource includes an interactive model and teaching materials. The model helps students understand and visualize how different systems on the Earth interact with each other, and how human actions impact these systems. Since the model is customizable, it can be applied to a variety of topics related to the Earth, including climate and weather, ocean acidification, human and animal health, and more. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
BioInteractive
BioInteractive brings the power of real science stories into tens of thousands of high school and undergraduate life science classrooms.
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 →
