New Jersey's Largest Lake Threatened by Climate Change

• This video describes how Lake Hopatcong in New Jersey and the surrounding community have been affected by warming temperatures due to climate change. 
• The video interviews a scientist and local resident, and shows historic footage of events on the ice in the past.
  

Positives

• New Jersey is described to be one of the states most affected by climate change, which may be surprising to students.
• The video is compelling because it integrates personal experiences of those living near the lake with the scientific information.
• Viewers are left feeling optimistic, as the video touches on ways the community is adapting and what the state of New Jersey is doing to slow climate change.
  

Additional Prerequisites

• Teachers may have to skip an ad before or during the video.
  

Differentiation

• Teachers could connect this resource to a biology class by exploring how the algae blooms mentioned in the video negatively affect the lake ecosystem.
• The video mentions a recent commitment by the New Jersey governor to develop off-shore wind energy, which could link this video to the topic of renewable energy and the government's role in combating climate change.
• The process of lakes freezing is strongly tied to water density, temperature, and wind, which could make this resource a good real-world example for a science class.
• This article by Our Climate Voices describes another lake in the United States, Lake Erie, that has been impacted by climate change, specifically by harmful algae blooms.
• This fun, interactive game lets students explore how human activity impacts the health of lakes, which would pair well with this video for a science lesson.
• Other resources related to climate change in New Jersey include the article Climate Change in New Jersey: A Brief Introduction, the video Climate Change: What's at Stake for New Jersey?, and the video Why Chronic Floods Are Coming to New Jersey.