NJClimateWeek: Changes in Precipitation

• This video details the increased risk of flooding in New Jersey from more intense or frequent rainfall events. 
• Leaders from across New Jersey's government deliver information about the impacts of stormwater and flooding, the many ways the state of New Jersey is working to ensure it is less prone to damaging floods, and what residents can do to mitigate their risks. 

Positives

• This video includes a variety of perspectives from across New Jersey's governmental agencies, which will provide students with a nuanced understanding of how increased precipitation is impacting the state and what can be done to mitigate the impacts. 
• Many strategies are included for what can be done at the individual, local, and state level. 

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should have some prior knowledge about how climate change can increase extreme weather.
  

Differentiation

• Cross-curricular connections could be made in social studies classes by using the resource to consider and discuss how state and local governments function. 
• Students can use this resource to create a list of action items regarding stormwater management. Have students work individually or with a partner to brainstorm all the steps people and governments can take, then compile the lists into a class document. 
• As an extension, have students choose an item from their list or from the video and write a letter or e-mail to a local official to advocate for the strategy to be used. 
• Other related resources include this e-book about the relationship between global warming and extreme weather, this video about the increased intensity of hurricanes, this video about why more floods are coming to New Jersey, and this interactive flood mapping tool for New Jersey. 

The video highlights how changes in precipitation impact New Jersey, causing intense floods. It also demonstrates the government's efforts in combating flooding through climate education, designing the NJ Floodmapper, and other contingency plans to build residents' capacity to manage flood risks. This is recommended for teaching.