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Investigating El Niño: Teacher Resources

Interested in engaging your students with real-time NOAA data? In this module, designed for 6-12th grade classrooms, students evaluate changes in sea surface temperature over space and time and investigate how El Niño affects phytoplankton & species distribution in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The module offers lessons at five different levels, beginning with basic graph interpretation (Levels 1 & 2) and building towards activities that challenge students to ask questions and develop their own data investigations (Levels 4 & 5).  

Image of sea temperature

 

Module Resources 

Teachers Guide
This guide provides educators with lesson plans, background information and tips and strategies for using the data tools in the module.
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Student Worksheets (PDF)
These worksheets support the online lessons. Fillable PDFs are digital documents that students can type in and submit to a learning management system.
Fillable PDF
Student Worksheets (PPT)
Worksheets in this format give educators flexibility to add (or edit) content for a specific grade level or course.
Editable PPT
Worksheet Answer Keys
Answer keys are available for checking and reviewing answers with students.
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Science Standards
A guide to understanding how this module supports the NGSS and three dimensional learning for middle and high school students.
Read NGSS Connections
Module Integration
There are many ways to integrate some or all of the lessons in this module into a unit or course. One example, aimed at middle school teachers, is provided here.
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