Data Puzzle: Weather vs. Climate - Extreme Cold in a Warming World? | CEEE

Data Puzzle: Weather vs. Climate - Extreme Cold in a Warming World? Misinterpreting weather events as evidence for or against climate change can lead to misconceptions. Therefore, being able to distinguish between normal weather variability and shifting long-term climate patterns (climate) is crucial to recognizing and addressing climate change.  In this Data Puzzle, students explore the difference between weather and climate in the context of an extreme cold event that occurred during a NFL playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins on January 13th, 2024. The air temperature at kickoff was -4°F, making it the fourth coldest NFL game ever played! But what does this cold weather event tell us (if anything) in the context of long-term average temperature patterns in the region? Are winters colder? warmer? or not changing at all? Context for Use In this Data Puzzle, students analyze and interpret an average winter temperature dataset to explain how average winter temperatures (climate) in Kansas City, MO has changed over time. Students then explore how average winter temperatures in their own communities (or nearby cities) have changed over time. Arctic air mass covering a large part of the United States in January of 2024 Program Data Puzzles Resource Type Lesson Topics Climate and Weather Climate Change Middle School High School Instructional Time 180 minutes NGSS Disciplinary Core Idea(s) ESS2D: Weather and Climate Published Date January 17, 2025 Goals Header What Students Will Do Analyze and interpret average winter temperature data to evaluate changing winter climate conditions in Kansas City, MO and throughout the United States.  Construct a written explanation to demonstrate how average winter temperatures in Kansas City are changing (getting warmer) over time . Teaching Materials All Lesson Resources - Weather vs. Climate Weather vs. Climate All Lesson Resources Teacher Guide - Weather vs. Climate Weather vs. Climate Teacher Guide Slide Deck - Weather vs. Climate Weather vs. Climate Slide Deck Student Worksheet - Weather vs. Climate Weather vs. Climate Student Worksheet Description Part 1 – (20 minutes) Eliciting Students' Ideas Access students' prior knowledge by asking students to consider the coldest winter day they've ever experienced, and whether it is always that cold in the winter. Part 2 – (80 minutes) Identifying Important Science Ideas Students engage with an interactive reading to 1) making connections between the opening scenario prompt and the work of Dr. Jen Kay, an atmospheric scientist that studies weather events, like those that caused a cold Arctic air to move south during the January 13th, 2024 NFL playoff game, as well as long-term winter temperature patterns (climate), and 2) make predictions as it relates to the investigative question, " How have average winter temperatures in Kansas City, MO changed over time?" Part 3 – (40 minutes) Supporting Ongoing Changes in Thinking Students test their predictions by analyzing an average winter temperature dataset (1975-2024) from the Kansas City International Airport in Missouri. Part 4 – (40 minutes) Constructing Evidence-Based Explanations S tudents reflect on evidence gathered during parts 1-3 and construct a journal article to explain the investigative question, "final explanatory model for the question, " How have average winter temperatures in Kansas City, MO changed over time?" Similar Resources Data Puzzle: It's All Connected Drifting North Polar Planetarium Data Puzzle: Megafire - Rare Occurrences or the New Normal? Data Puzzle: Wind Farms of the Future In this Data Puzzle, students analyze and interpret data surface roughness (a frictional force) and wind speed data from across the United States to identify suitable locations for future wind turbines to be constructed. Data Puzzle: Snow in the Rockies Data Puzzle: Not All Warming is Equal Data Puzzle: Megadrought in the Colorado River Basin In this Data Puzzle: students analyze authentic temperature and precipitation data to construct explanatory models for the following question, "What is causing the megadrought in the Colorado River Basin?" Data Puzzle: The Tipping Point In this Data Puzzle students analyze and interpret temperature and plant reproduction data to construct explanatory models for the following question, "How is moss campion reproduction affected by temperature?"