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What Makes Cities So Hot?
https://scied.ucar.edu/kids/video/what-makes-cities-so-hot

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Center for Science Education with FableVision Studios, UCAR SkySci for Kids

This short video introduces the concept of the urban heat island effect.

Video length is 0:44 min

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»


Grade Level

Online Readiness

Topics

Climate Literacy

This Video builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Energy Literacy

This Video builds on the following concepts of Energy Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Notes From Our Reviewers The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy | Technical Details

Teaching Tips

  • The video presents an abstract concept of heat islands. Grounding this information by doing experiments on heat absorbance/reflectance in the classroom and considering local examples of heat islands will help students connect with the ideas presented.
  • This could be used as an introduction video for the urban heat island effect.
  • Students could tell a time when they experience this effect. Students could suggest solutions to this problem. Possible prompts: Why is this problem worse in a city? Why is this a problem that needs to be solved?

About the Content

  • This is a very quick video that focuses on urban heat islands. Some concepts, such as waste heat, may need to be further explained.
  • Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.

About the Pedagogy

  • This quick overview of urban heat islands could serve as a jumping off point for a lesson about albedo and how energy is transferred through heat. The video itself is very short but accurately describes the concept of urban heat islands.
Entered the Collection: September 2023 Last Reviewed: June 2023

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