Lab 6: Trees and Paleoclimate: How Do We Know What We Know?
The lab activity described here was created by Betsy Youngman of TERC for the EarthLabs project.
Summary and Learning Objectives
Students view graphs of changing global, regional, and local temperatures from both proxy sources (e.g., tree rings; fossilized pollen) and instrumental records. They then collect and analyze a simulated sediment core from a freshwater lake and view maps and animations that demonstrate how preferred habitats of tree species migrate in concert with climate change.
After completing this investigation, students will be able to:
- explain what "proxy data" is and give examples of how proxy data provides information about climate of the past
Overview and Teaching Materials
Detailed overview of what students will do in each lab activity, how long it will take, and what materials are required to complete the lab.
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HideIn Part A: Students learn about proxy data, the various sources of proxy data that scientists use, and how that data allows scientists to reconstruct climate records from the past. This lab requires a live Internet connection.
Time required: 50 minutes
In Part B: Using an animation based on North American pollen data extracted from lake sediments, students track 21,000 years of plant / biome migration as the Wisconsin ice sheet retreats. This lab requires a live Internet connection.
Time required: 50 minutes
In Part C: Students use their knowledge of biomes and proxy data to reconstruct climate over a period of several thousand years using data from simulated lake bottom sediment core. Teachers need to prepare lab materials and instructions in advance. This lab can be completed offline.
Time required: 50 minutes
Tools needed: Internet browser, Adobe Reader, Lab Materials, PowerPoint.
Time required: 150 minutes, or 3 class periods, are needed to complete these labs. (Part A can be done as homework.)
Printable Materials
Download and print files needed for each lab activity, including images, data tables, and Stop and Think questions.
- Stop and Think Questions (
and PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 73kB Jun8 22))Word
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to Stop and Think QuestionsSuggested Answers
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Lab 6C
- Student Worksheet: Pollen and Paleoclimate (Acrobat (PDF) 129kB Jun8 22)
- Key to Pollen Core Activity (Acrobat (PDF) 180kB Jun8 22)
Teaching Notes and Tips
General recommendations for classroom implementation as well as guidelines and facilitation tips for leading class discussions.
About Proxy Data
What is Proxy Data? Before scientists can truly understand the possible human impact to Earth's climate system, they need to understand the natural, long-term patterns of Earth's climate, patterns that pre-date significant human impact on the system. Of course, there were no instruments collecting climate data 1,000 years ago or 100,000 years ago, so how do scientists come to understand those climate patterns from the past? Through what is referred to as proxy data: i.e., data such as fossilized pollen in ancient lake bed sediments, coral growth, or tree rings, which are natural recorders of Earth's climate patterns. Teachers may want to engage students in a discussion of how nature records weather and climate before beginning this lab. Often students are familiar with ice core records and can relate sediment cores to ice cores. Ice cores are discussed in detail in the Cryosphere module of Earthlabs.
Part A:
To begin this part, students read a little about proxy data before reviewing a PowerPoint file that shows the many proxy records, how they were constructed, and how they show similar patterns in the data. Teachers may want to share this as a large class discussion. Download and view the Climate Change: Past, Present, and Future (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 1.8MB Aug8 18) PowerPoint file. Teachers should emphasize the significance of the alignment amongst such a large variety of independent data sets.
Note: This PowerPoint file was adapted from Climate Change: Past, Present, and Future, presentation NSTA Climate Change Symposium, March 2011. Courtesy of: LuAnn Dahlman, NOAA.
Part B:
The Pollen Viewer is based on the records of fossilized pollen found in North American lake bed sediments. Using the pollen data, the Pollen Viewer animation reconstructs the changing ranges of dozens of trees and plants across a 21,000-year time span as Wisconsin Ice Sheet retreated. Take time in this lab to make the connection between plant species distribution and past climate. Ask students to contemplate: a) how do we know about ancient tree species locations and b) what plants might have lived in your neighborhood in the distant past?
Part C:
The hands-on Pollen lab in Pollen and Paleoclimate requires lab materials and teacher pre-lab preparation which are described below. Additional detailed instructions for the teacher are included in this word document: teaching notes for lab 6C (Acrobat (PDF) 140kB Jun8 22). The preparation for this lab is time-consuming (60-90 minutes). Teachers may want to have several students assist in the preparation of the lab materials. The good news is: if dry soil, gravel, or sand is used as the base materials, the lab materials can be saved and re-used for many years. Another recommendation that aids in the longevity of the materials is to use beads instead of paper punches for the "pollen" grains. There are two printable files for this activity: a student worksheet and an activity key, both are linked above, and on the student page.
Prepare for the investigation
These materials will need to assembled before class begins.
- Pollen pictures. An image is on the student site. Either print the images or prepare to show them to the whole class, via projector.
- One large graduated cylinder (1000 ml at least) for the "sediment" column. Only one is needed as a demonstration for the whole class. Note: If you do not have access to a cylinder, a transparent "Smart Water" brand bottle, or tennis ball can are good substitutes. See schematic of core pictured below.
×![[creative commons]](/images/creativecommons_16.png)
Provenance: Adapted from http://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_2_2_10t.htm
Reuse: This item is offered under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ You may reuse this item for non-commercial purposes as long as you provide attribution and offer any derivative works under a similar license. - Five different types of "sediment" for the Washington data (any soil, sand, potting mixture, etc. that can be layered to show the five distinct layers). You will need enough for the sediment column and corresponding "samples." A sample bag pictured below. The pollen grains are made of plastic beads, buttons, or colored paper punches. You will need 11 different colored beads, buttons, (or paper punches). The quantities range from 3 to 24. You will also need the Teachers key for setting up the sample bags for the Washington Model. Each bag will have 25 beads total. You will need to decide on your color or shape key.
The color (or shape) is listed here by letter, for example A could be red, or square... depending on how you set up the lab. This quantity of beads will make up 5 bags, one of each type. If you have more than 5 lab teams, you can adjust the number of bags. In other words, double the recipe.
- A-5
- B-20
- C-24
- D-17
- E-8
- F-5
- G-6
- H-11
- I-19
- J-3
- K-7
Distribute to each student team:
- A small, re-sealable plastic bag containing the sediment layer sample.
- A pie pan for the sediment layer sample.
- Tables of the different "pollen" colors showing which colors represent which plants and information about the climatic requirements for each plant species. (A blank one is included the student worksheet, teachers will need to define the color key before class)
- Tweezers, toothpicks, or forceps to sort through the pollen sample.
- A worksheet to record the data. (Included in the student worksheet.)
After you have completed the lab, conduct a data analysis discussion, described below.Purpose of the discussion: In this lab students investigated historical records of climate and the biosphere. A discussion of results will help to clarify how sediment cores of pollen grains are a record of climate.
Facilitation Tips: Write the primary discussion question on the board. If possible, seat students facing one another in a semi-circle. Have students stand at the front to share their climate stories. Ask students in the audience to listen carefully for similarities and differences amongst the teams' interpretations. Draw a graph of climate vs. time on the board to show the explanation for the rapid changes in plant life. Compare and contrast the stories, and then share the information in the teacher's key. Discuss interpretations of data and sources of error.
Primary discussion question: Share your climate stories with the rest of the class. After you have shared your stories, return to Pollen viewer (Lab 6B) and examine the advance and retreat of the glacial ice sheet and variations in species distribution for the region around Battleground Lake. How does your story fit with the data given in the pollen viewer?
Wrap Up: If possible, project the Pollen Viewer applet and spend time as a class reviewing the data that is given there. Look for species that were mentioned in the lab. Wrap the discussion up by reviewing the concepts of proxy data and paleoclimate.
Student Notebooks
Suggestions for how to use Student Notebooks for Lab 6.
- Key Questions listed in introduction to lab
- Stop and Think questions
- Discussion Starters and a place to write notes
- Relevant vocabulary and a place to write definitions
- Extra blank sheets for sketches or notes
- Pollen viewer images (in print)
- Lab handout for pollen core lab 6C
- Recording sheet for lab 6C
Assessments
There are several options for assessment of student understanding of material introduced in this lab. Choose from the following list, or create your own assessments.
- Assess student understanding of topics addressed in this investigation by grading their responses to the Stop and Think questions.
- Teachers may decide to collect and grade the lab reports.
- Written Test for Lab 6
,Word
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Science Standards
Lab 6 supports following Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
HS ESS2.A.3. The geological record shows that changes ...
Science and Engineering Practices:
1. Asking and Defining Problems
2. Developing and Using Models
4. Analyzing and Interpreting Data
7. Engaging in Argument From Evidence
Cross Cutting Concepts:
1. Patterns
7. Stability and Change
Examples of how students engage with the standards:
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Reuse: This item is offered under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ You may reuse this item for non-commercial purposes as long as you provide attribution and offer any derivative works under a similar license.
Reuse: This item is offered under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ You may reuse this item for non-commercial purposes as long as you provide attribution and offer any derivative works under a similar license.
Go to Next Generation Science Standards.
Additional Resources
Explore background information and content extensions related to Lab 6.
Background Information
Additional background information about paleoclimate:
- USGS brief video Paleoclimate: Pollen Research
- A Paleo Perspective on Global Warming
More information about Lab in 6C:
- Paleoclimate and Pollen Lab—Windows to the Universe.
- Paleoclimate and Pollen Lab - original version—UCAR version; simpler to read.
Content Extension
Students interested in ancient climate records that can be found in ocean sediment cores, going back thousands to millions of years, may be interested in completing these Earth Exploration Toolbook chapters.
This Earth Exploration Toolbook chapter Pollen and Climate, uses the Pollen Viewer data and gives students the opportunity for a more in-depth examination of tree migration.
Other resources for teaching about ancient climate can be found at Ideas for Teaching about Paleoclimate