NJ AITC Lessons
Climate Change
New Jersey is the only state in the country to institute climate change education standards for every grade level. To aid teachers in meeting these climate change standards, New Jersey Agriculture in the Classroom has created a special unit of lessons on New Jersey Farming and Climate Change.
Global warming is impacting New Jersey agriculture, which is the state's third largest industry. Temperatures in the Garden State have increased 4°F since the year 1900, twice the rate of the worldwide temperature increase of 2°F. This warming has increased the intensity of storms causing flooding and also has increased periods of drought. Early spring weather is particularly volatile, with temperatures rising and falling dramatically.
NJAITC's climate change unit walks students through the reasons for climate change and the specific impacts on New Jersey crops. It shows students actions New Jersey farmers are taking to adapt to the warming climate and suggests actions students and their schoos and families can take to slow global warming.
Each lesson is linked to the New Jersey Climate Change Education Learning Standards for kindergarten through fifth grade, and can be modified for older and younger students. If you have questions about these lessons, please contact: njagliteracy@gmail.com.
Click on the lesson title to download the lesson.
The Greenhouse Effect
This easy experiment shows students how heat becomes trapped by gases in the atmosphere causing temperatures to warm on Earth.
Ice Melt and Rising Sea Levels Experiment
This simple experiment shows students how melting glaciers and ice sheets on land causes the level of the sea to rise.
Warmer Water and Rising Sea Levels Experiment
This simple experiment shows students how an increase in the temperature of the ocean can cause the level of the ocean to rise.
Climate Change and Plants
This lesson shows students the impact of weather extremes on plants.
New Jersey Farming and Climate Change
Students learn how New Jersey farmers are adapting to the changing climate brought about by global warming.
What Can You Do About Climate Change?
Students learn some actions they can take at home or school to combat global warming.
Extreme Weather and Sea Level Rise Grades 6-8
Students explore increased precipitation and sea level rise in New Jersey and advocate for a climate adaptation strategy.
Rising Temperatures: Graphing Lesson Grades 6-8
Students graph data to explore the relationship between maximum and minimum New Jersey temperatures over time.
Impacts of Climate Change in New Jersey Writing Lesson Grades 6-8
Students choose one impact of climate change affecting New Jersey and write a claim-evidence-reasoning (CER) paragraph.
Climate Change and Public Health Grades 6-8
Students explore how climate change is impacting public health in New Jersey, understand the difference between climate mitigation and climate adaptation, and create a video advocating for a climate adaptation strategy related to public health in New Jersey.
Research Lesson: Climate Change in New Jersey Grades 9-12
Students explore four major categories of climate change, identify one to further research, and create a fact sheet.
Graphing Lesson: Precipitation Data 9-12
Students use New Jersey precipitation data to create graphs and discuss climate change.
Health Lesson: Air Quality 9-12
This lesson introduces the connections between air quality and environmental justice.
Poetry Writing Lesson: Poetic Tone and Climate Zones 9-12
Students learn the five climate zones in New Jersey and interpret facts into a poetic voice from the point of view of nature.