Teaching Tips

• It would be useful for instructors to show a larger map (that includes the continents) in the very beginning of the unit so students can better visualize the part of the ocean the activity is focused on.
• This activity can be taught in a jigsaw format, with different groups of students examining separate types of data, and then sharing their findings. Alternatively, educators can skip the jigsaw format and have the students look at all three data types.
• This activity can be paired with Case Study 2.2 in this unit, https://serc.carleton.edu/integrate/teaching_materials/climate_change/casestudy2-2.html
• This activity can be used prior to an introduction to the El Niño - Southern Oscillation, which is Unit 3 in this module https://serc.carleton.edu/integrate/teaching_materials/climate_change/unit3.html.
• Suggestions to the instructor are included in the activity overview.

About the Content

• This activity engages students in examining tropical Pacific pressure, sea-surface temperature, and precipitation data over a 10-year time span.
• Comments from expert scientist: Excellent educational resource on all levels.
  - Relevant to today's biggest issues
  - Requires a strong sense of interpretation of widely-used data
  - Requires communication between group members and classmates
  - Interpretations of both means and anomalies is great - definitely want to discuss with the class the differences between the two and where they are derived from
  Suggestion: In my experience teaching ENSO material, it was really important to clarify that pressure is ATMOSPHERIC pressure...

About the Pedagogy

• This exercise helps students become familiar with the idea that scientists learn about relationships in the climate system by looking at changes in the oceans and atmosphere over a period of years.
• Students are engaged with map-based data plots and a set of questions that help them work through the meaning of the plots.
• Students show their understanding of the concepts by completing a set of questions and by debriefing the class on their findings. An answer key is provided.

• This resource engages students in using scientific data.
  See other data-rich activities

Technical Details/Ease of Use

• This activity is well thought out and carefully described. Each step of the process is thoroughly documented.
• Handouts are clearly presented and easy to follow. Teaching notes accompany the activity.
• Data is presented in PowerPoint form and can be either projected or printed.

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