Wildfires Student Lab
Articles/Websites
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Geography
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Provided by The Climate Initiative
What it is
- In this resource, students will find an interactive collection of information and other media to help them learn about the basic science, causes, and effects of wildfires, with case studies from California.
- There are three interactive parts to this resource including an interactive "classroom" with basic information about wildfires, an interactive module students can use to learn what they should do in the event of a wildfire, and an interactive map of wildfires in California.
- A comprehensive teacher guide (Learning Lab) includes six lessons that can be utilized to create an entire wildfire unit for your classroom.
Teaching tips
Positives
- Each presentation allows students to view wildfires from a different perspective.
- The interactive media makes learning almost like a game.
Additional Prerequisites
- In the third presentation, on the wildfire map, the markers near San Fransisco and San Jose are broken links.
- Students should understand that climate change is causing many areas to become hotter and drier.
Differentiation
- After completing the second interactive presentation, students can create a plan for what they might do if there is a wildfire in their area.
- Each student can conduct a small research project or report on one of the wildfires from the map, sharing with the class once complete.
- Students using the virtual classroom can explore it like a scavenger hunt, with questions to answer at every stop.
From the scientist review
With the help of this resource, students can investigate what wildfires are, where they might happen, and what circumstances might set them off. Furthermore, students would get knowledge on how to create preventative plans to lessen the effects of wildfires when they do occur. It is advised to use this well-researched material when teaching.
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Hosted on theclimateinitiative.org
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