This webquest was designed to teach my students about the causes and effects of climate change. This is based upon the following middle school NGSS standards about earth and human activity: MS-ESS3-5 Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century. This performance expectation is based upon the DCI ESS3.D. Global Climate Change: Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming). 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.
Additionally, by having students also focus on and brainstorm potential changes they can make individually and as a school to be part of the solution to prevent/reverse some of the negative impacts of climate change, the following NGSS standards are also addressed: MS-ETS1-1 Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions; MS-ETS1-2 Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem; MS-LS2-4 Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations; MS-LS2-5 Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.