Drought Causes: Climate Change Impacts

Lesson Plans

Grades6, 7, 8Earth and Space Sciences

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by Project Look Sharp

Open Resource

What it is

In this activity, students will review articles from the National Resources Defense Council, TechTimes.com, and the Union of Concerned Scientists and answer questions about the relationship between climate change and droughts.
This resource includes a student worksheet, a lesson plan, a student handout, and a PowerPoint presentation.

Teaching tips

Positives

The lesson plan provides discussion questions for many academic subjects.
The PowerPoint presentation and activity can be used in a virtual or in-person lesson.

Additional Prerequisites

Teachers must create a free account to access the materials.
Teachers may want to research the sources ahead of time to understand the viewpoints and biases.

Differentiation

Students can respond to questions individually or in small groups before discussing the questions as a class.
The reading for this activity is a bit dense, so a structured reading process may help some students.
Other resources on this topic include this interactive map on droughts in the United States, this short film about how a drought changed a farming community, and this video featuring a youth activist working to fight water waste during times of drought.

From the scientist review

This resource will educate students about the risk of droughts and other climate change problems. The resource is recommended for teaching.

How we review resources

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At a glance

Grades: 6, 7, 8
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Other types: Articles/Websites, Activity - Classroom, Worksheets, Presentation Slides
Format: PDF, Microsoft Powerpoint
Language: English
Location: Earth
Provider: Project Look Sharp
Authors: Project Look Sharp, Sox Sperry
Published: April 27, 2021
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · MS-ESS2-1. + 19 more

Core

Core Standards legacy

MS-ESS2-1.MS-ESS2-1. Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth's materials and the flow of energy that drives this process.
MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth's systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
MS-ESS2-5.MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions.
D2.Geo.2.6-8D2.Geo.2.6-8 Use maps, satellite images, photographs, and other representations to explain relationships between the locations of places and regions, and changes in their environmental characteristics.
D3.2.6-8D3.2.6-8 Evaluate the credibility of a source by determining its relevance and intended use.
D4.6.6-8D4.6.6-8 Draw on multiple disciplinary lenses to analyze how a specific problem can manifest itself at local, regional, and global levels over time, identifying its characteristics and causes, and the challenges and opportunities faced by those trying to address the problem.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.6CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.6 Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.1CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.7CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.7 Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).
MS-ESS2-C.4.MS-ESS2-C.4. The complex patterns of the changes and the movement of water in the atmosphere, determined by winds, landforms, and ocean temperatures and currents, are major determinants of local weather patterns. (MS-ESS2-5)
MS-ESS3-D.MS-ESS3-D. Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming). Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities, and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and activities. (MS-ESS3-5)

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
MS-ESS2-1.MS-ESS2-1. Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials and the flow of energy that drives plate tectonics.
MS-ESS2-5.MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions.
R.6.6R.6.6 In literary texts, identify possible biases, and the point of view, and explain how it is developed and conveys meaning in diverse texts. (RL) In informational texts, explain how an author’s geographic location, identity, and/or culture affect perspective. Analyze how the author distinguishes his or her position from that of others. (RI)
SL.7.1SL.7.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing one’s thinking clearly.
R.8.1R.8.1 Cite textual evidence that strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly/implicitly and make logical inferences. (RI&RL)
R.8.7R.8.7 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different media—print, audio, video, stage, or digital—to present a particular subject or idea and analyze the extent to which a production remains faithful to or departs from the written text. (RI&RL)
SS.Geog1.b.mSS.Geog1.b.m Interpret patterns in a variety of maps, charts, and graphs to display geographic information (contour, cartogram, population, natural resource, historical maps) and explain relationships among them.

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