This resource contains a brief article, pictures, and a video that describes the solutions to coastal flooding developed in Venice and Holland.
The MOSE project is made up of moveable giant barricades to keep floodwaters out of Venice.
The Netherlands created a comprehensive combination of many different types of flood control systems, designed to survive flood levels that occur every 10,000 years.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The article is an easy read and contains pictures and infographics.
Additional Prerequisites
The video is not narrated, so there is no audio.
The website contains links to articles for similar climate adaptations in other parts of the world at the bottom of the page.
Differentiation
Social studies and economics classes could discuss the feasibility of designing and building similar structures along every coastline around the world vs. moving communities to higher ground.
Science classes could use this as an example of an engineered climate adaptation and then connect it with climate mitigation practices that will reduce levels of greenhouse gases.
MOSE is designed to abate flooding. The resource provides the procedures in the engineering design of MOSE, a flood control system in Venice. Students can learn the steps, components of the design and replicate them in their community.
Standards
Science
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS.ESS3.1 Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
ETS1: Engineering Design
HS.ETS1.1 Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.
Social Sciences
Civics and Government (K-12)
HS.11 Analyze and evaluate the methods for challenging, resisting, and changing society in the promotion of equity, justice, and equality.