Overview

As a high school or undergraduate Geography, Environmental Sciences or Earth Sciences teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to teach about permafrost, the nature and distribution of permafrost in the Earth’s cryosphere, thawing of permafrost due to global warming which in turn, results in the release of a potent greenhouse gas methane; and therefore, the possible impacts of permafrost thawing on climate. This lesson plan introduces the topic of permafrost and the observed thawing of permafrost in recent times due to rising global temperatures. A computer-based activity/model helps in exploring the possible impacts of permafrost thawing on the Earth’s climate. Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Geography, Environmental Sciences or Earth Sciences.

Grade Level: High School, undergraduate
Discipline: Geography, Environmental Sciences, Earth Sciences
Topics: Permafrost, Methane, Thawing of Permafrost, Global Warming Methanogens, Greenhouse Gases Emissions
Climate Topic: Climate and the Cryosphere, The greenhouse effect
Location: Global
Languages: English
Duration: 50-60 min

Learning Outcomes

The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:

• describe permafrost and its characteristics
• discuss the changing nature and distribution of permafrost on Earth
• explain the possible effects of thawing of permafrost on Earth’s climate
• interpret, analyze, and predict trends in data from permafrost-related datasets