Science Partnership for Global Change Education
In-class activities
Flooding and Droughts
These hands-on and data-driven student activities explore the idea that a warming atmosphere leads to significant changes in the water cycle and changing precipitation patterns. The first activity models how a warmer climate leads to more evaporation and is speeding up the water cycle. The second activity shows how urbanization increases runoff and reduces infiltration (water soaking into the ground) leading to more potential for flooding and less groundwater recharge. The third data driven activity includes flood data for the Mississippi River for students to determine if flood recurrence has changed since 1850.
1. This simple hands-on activity models the water cycle with and without global warming. Student can visually see the impact a warmer atmosphere has on evaporation rates and the water cycle in general. The set up is simple and can be done in a classroom and/or outdoors.
2. This engaging hands-on activity uses physical models to investigate what happens to rainwater as it hits various surfaces. The models represent three very different types of landscapes including an urban one with human-made materials and structures, a rural landscape with abundant plants and foliage, and one with unplanted soil. After pouring water on each model students then calculate how much runoff versus infiltration there was with each landscape to determine which one is more likely to flood given the same rain event. The activity highlights how urbanization, especially without the inclusion parklands, has increased flooding risk.
3. In this data-driven jigsaw style activity students examine flood data from various points along the Mississippi River to assess changing flood trends that have occurred since 1850. Each group of students will analyze one graphed data set and make their conclusions. There are four similar data sets for this activity that will be jigsawed together.