SC15.6.14 | ALEX

Science (2015) Grade(s): 6

SC15.6.14
Analyze and interpret data (e.g., tables, graphs, maps of global and regional temperatures; atmospheric levels of gases such as carbon dioxide and methane; rates of human activities) to describe how various human activities (e.g., use of fossil fuels, creation of urban heat islands, agricultural practices) and natural processes (e.g., solar radiation, greenhouse effect, volcanic activity) may cause changes in local and global temperatures over time.

Unpacked Content

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Crosscutting Concepts

Stability and Change

Knowledge

Students know:

Natural processes and/or human activities may have affected the patterns of change in global temperatures over the past century, leading to the current rise in Earth's mean surface temperature (global warming).
Natural processes may include factors such as changes in incoming solar radiation, the greenhouse effect, or volcanic activity.
Human activities may include factors such as fossil fuel combustion, the creation of urban heat islands, and agricultural activity.
Natural processes and/or human activities may lead to a gradual or sudden change in global temperatures in natural systems (e.g., glaciers and arctic ice, and plant and animal seasonal movements and life cycle activities).
Natural processes and/or human activities may have led to changes in the concentration of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere over the past century.
Patterns in data connect natural processes and human activities to changes in global temperatures over the past century.
Patterns in data connect the changes in natural processes and/or human activities related to greenhouse gas production to changes in the concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities, and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and activities.

Skills

Students are able to:

Organize given data on various human activities, natural processes, and changes in local and global temperatures to allow for analysis and interpretation.
Analyze the data to identify possible causal relationships between human activities and natural processes and changes in local and global temperature over time.
Interpret patterns observed from the data to provide causal accounts for events and make predictions for events by constructing explanations.

Understanding

Students understand that:

Human activities and natural processes may affect local and global temperatures over time.

Vocabulary

Natural processes
Human activities
Global temperatures
Mean surface temperature
Global warming
Solar radiation
Greenhouse Effect
Volcanic activity
Fossil fuels
Combustion
Urban heat islands
Agriculture
Natural systems
Carbon dioxide (gases)
Greenhouse gases
Concentration
Atmosphere
Climate change

Aligned Learning Resources

Climate Change & The Carbon Cycle

Global Warming: Fact or Fiction?

Consequence of Burning Fossil Fuels

Tracking Carbon to Understand Its Flow

Modeling the Carbon Cycle to Inform Others

Carbon Concerns

Climate Change and Rising Seas

Test Your Knowledge on Climate Change!