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Teek and Tom Episode 5: Our Planet is Changing and We Can All Help!
https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/teekandtom/episode-5.html

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The resource consists of a video and two lesson plans that focus on investigating CO2 data and the impact of changes to the atmosphere and oceans and the impacts on weather and climate. Students are presented with a video that builds a case for anthropogenic climate change due to the burning of fossil fuels, and the resulting temperature increases, extreme weather events and sea level changes. It wraps up with an introduction to NOAA programs that are part of a series of mitigation efforts.

Video length is 12:32.

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»

Grade Level

Regional Focus

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.

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 and lessons are appropriate for students in grades 3-6.
  • There are multiple insertion points in a science curriculum where the lessons could be added. The primary strength of the lessons is the video telling a cohesive story of key Earth systems, and how those systems impact each other.
  • Ideas for extensions are provided at the end of each lesson plan with links to the resources.

About the Content

  • This video and two associated lesson plans from NOAA teaches students the foundational concepts of climate change, the greenhouse gas effect, and a variety of grassroots solutions.
  • The video provides an easy to understand scientific explanation of the greenhouse effect and briefly discusses the complex political context around individual and governmental action.
  • In the "Evidence of Change" lesson, students will practice interpreting graphs and discussing the larger repercussions of climate change.
  • The "Taking Care of Earth" lesson fosters stewardship of Earth with a presentation activity.
  • Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.

About the Pedagogy

  • This curriculum includes a 13-minute video, teacher guide with rubric and cheat-sheet, slide deck, and student worksheets.
  • A 5E lesson plan complete with NGSS alignment, assessment ideas and extensions is provided. The lessons engage students in content that is locally relevant and use the 5E model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate) to provide a structure for students to connect science ideas with their own experiences and apply their learning to new contexts.
  • In the first lesson students will investigate data about carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the resulting warming of the Earth and the ocean. They will construct a "futures wheel" to identify multiple layers of consequences of a warming ocean.
  • In the second lesson, students will develop and present about the ocean and atmosphere connections to weather and climate and how changes impact humans. A handy rubric is included to score presentations.
  • Extension activities are included.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

  • All required materials are easily accessible from the webpage including the video.
Entered the Collection: May 2025 | Last Reviewed: May 2025

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