Climate Change — Lab Prep

  1. Preparation for the Ice Melt, Greenhouse Gas, and Species Range Activities
    • To prepare for the exercise, first print enough data recording tables for students in each group. NOTE: Activities one and two can be done simultaneously, each by half of the class broken up into groups of two to four students, or by all students if desired.
    • If the class will split the activity, separate the data tables accordingly.
    • Students performing activity one will need copies of Table 2 and Table 4. Click Here to download Tables
    • Students performing activity two will need copies of Table 3 and Table 5.
    • For each group doing the land and sea ice activity, set out two 500 mL graduated cylinders, marking tape, a permanent marker, a ruler, and 20 ice cubes.
    • Cut out a two-inch diameter piece of styrofoam.
    • Use a hole punch or scissors to cut a small hole out of the middle for draining, and then place the styrofoam with the rest of the materials for the land and sea ice activity.
    • For each group doing the greenhouse gases activity, arrange two 500 mL graduated cylinders, plastic wrap, tape or rubber bands, marking tape, a permanent marker, and two thermometers.
    • Print figures 3-11, and the historic glaciation figure so that students can draw out ranges to visualize species range expansion. Click Here to download Figures
    • The nine potential species ranges that we explore are tabulated in Table 1, and the species list can be edited to fit the class size at www.neotomadb.org.