This lesson plan uses NASA Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instrument percent coverage surface data with a world map to locate landmasses and bodies of water at the Earth's Equator. When using satellites to study Earth system processes, especially atmospheric processes, it is important to know what is the background that one is seeing on the Earth. This lesson provides an introduction ... Full description.

This inquiry-based, classroom activity explores the impact of climate change and variability on forests. It focuses on the impact of climate change on a sugar maple farm in New England. The scenario invites students to examine higher-level issues of climate variability and change by creating a practical, scientifically-sound model to address specific points of a localized socioeconomic situation. Full description.

This curriculum packet contains three inquiry-based classroom activities that explore the potential impact of climate variability and change on Earth's most abundant resource: water. Although each activity is designed to tap specific skills and knowledge to yield scientific results, the broader intent is to stimulate thought about the long-term impacts of a warmer planet. Full description.

This inquiry-based module includes a series of activities and experiments demonstrating the importance of feedbacks and the balance of mass and energy to how a system responds to change. Full description.

In this product, students engage in processes/activities for collaboration and communication strategies. Students compare risks of courses of action confronting NASA's Deep Impact mission team. They investigate information necessary to support arguments, quantitative risk analyses, debate, role play, persuasive writing/communication skills and group decision making procedures. This activity has been ... Full description.