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Activity 2.3

Further Discussion

In the following graphs from the New York Times, students are asked open-ended questions to facilitate discussion around climate change impacts. 

Using the 4 maps below, answer the following questions:

Question: What do you notice?

Question: What do you wonder?


Then, in small groups or pairs:

Question: What is going on?

Question: Why do you think the graph was produced? What story does it tell?

Question: Write a catchy headline for what you see.


Screenshot of graph from the 'New York Times' showing summer temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere from 1951-1980. Summer temperatures were neither extremely hot nor extremely cold.


Screenshot of graph from the 'New York Times' showing summer temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere from 1983-1993. Summer temperatures were slightly warmer than the previous time period of 1951-1980.


Screenshot of graph from the 'New York Times' showing summer temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere from 1994-2004. Summer temperatures were warmer than the previous time period of 1983-1993. Extremely hot temperatures were more frequent.


Screenshot of graph from the 'New York Times' showing summer temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere from 2005-2015. Summer temperatures were overwhelmingly warmer with more extremely hot days than the previous time period of 1994-2004.


Question: What implications might the data on these graphs have?