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Please note, the PDF lesson plans linked to from this page are temporarily unavailable as of 4-18-13. We hope to restore them soon, thank you for your patience in the meantime.

In lessons 3a-3e below, students examine how climate change affects the water cycle. By the conclusion of these lessons, students will be able to describe the water cycle and analyze how climate change alters this cycle. They will appreciate the role of the cryosphere as a critical component of the water cycle and will understand how sea level changes affect plants and animals as well as human societies.

Media Included in the Strand
Following Raindrops
Climate Change and the Water Cycle
Visiting Dana Glacier
The Intertidal Zone and Sea Level Rise Snowpack

Clue into Climate Student Workbook (PDF)
The Student Workbook can be used with any of the content strands for student engagement and reflection.

Strand 3 Educator Guide - Water Cycle (PDF)
Use this educator guide to teach this entire content strand as a unit.

Strand 3 Background Article- Water Cycle (PDF)
Look here for background information on how climate change affects the water cycle.

Lesson 3a: Water Planet: How the Water Cycle Works (PDF)
The water cycle is Earth's natural mechanism for circulating water on, above, and below the surface of the planet. Although the balance of water on Earth remains fairly consistent over time, climate change is affecting parts of the water cycle and the distribution of our water resources. In this lesson, students examine all the stages in the water cycle to gain a deeper understanding of how this process works.

Lesson 3b: Climate Change and the Water Cycle (PDF)
Climate change and human activities are affecting the way fresh water is distributed on Earth. In this lesson, students examine the effects of climate change on the water cycle and what this might mean for our planet.

Following Raindrops
Video Transcript (PDF)

To see the full 11 minute version, visit Tracking Raindrops on QUEST.
Click here to download this video

Climate Change and the Water Cycle
Animation Transcript (PDF)
These animation sequences are simulations and are not meant to represent a specific region. The climate change-induced scenarios depicted are designed to illustrate changes to the water cycle that may occur over many years. These changes are dependent on location, human impact and many other factors.

 

Lesson 3c: A Global Glacier Melt (PDF)
Glaciers are an important bellwether for climate change because they react fast enough for people to notice a difference in just a few short years. In this lesson, students explore how climate change affects glaciers and what this may mean for the rest of the world.

Visiting Dana Glacier
Video Transcript (PDF)

To see more resources about Dana Glacier, visit Multimedia: Journey to the Dana Glacier on Climate Watch.
Click here to download this video

Lesson 3d: The Impact of Climate Change on the Ocean (PDF)
Climate change is affecting our oceans in more ways than one. Sea levels are on the rise, the intertidal zone is shrinking, and scientists are noticing changes in marine ecosystems because of the warming climate. In this lesson, students explore how climate change is affecting sea levels and the intertidal zone.

The Intertidal Zone and Sea Level Rise
Video Transcript (PDF)

To see the full 23 minute version, visit Climate Watch: California at the Tipping Point on QUEST.

Projected Sea Level Rise (PDF)

Lesson 3e: How Climate Change Affects Our Water Supply (PDF)
Approximately 40 percent of California's surface water supply originates from the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. However, climate change is significantly altering this precious water source. In this lesson, students explore how climate change affects snowpack and water supply.

Snowpack
Video Transcript (PDF)

To see the full 23 minute version, visit Climate Watch: California at the Tipping Point on QUEST.
Click here to download this video

Decreasing California Snowpack (PDF)

Also on KQED.org this week ...