Science Lesson: Flooding and Climate Adaptation
Lesson Plan
2 hoursGrades9, 10, 11, 12, APScience
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Written by Michael Aprill
About this lesson
In this lesson, students analyze and compare case studies of two communities that were forced to relocate due to flooding. Students then research a local community vulnerable to flooding and design a managed retreat that considers both social and cultural needs.
Inquire: Students reflect on the place where they live and discuss a photo of the impact of flooding on a Wisconsin community.
Investigate: Students watch a short video about Valmeyer, Illinois, and Odanah, Wisconsin, two towns forced to relocate due to flooding, then participate in a jigsaw activity to investigate further.
Inspire: Students use flood risk mapping tools to select a location and then design a plan for a managed retreat.
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Suggestions
- The Investigate and Inspire sections are designed to be completed on separate days or class periods. The readings and research can be completed for homework.
- This place-based lesson can be taught in a science class during a unit on earth hazards, meteorology, or the water cycle, or in a social studies class during a unit on migration, democracy, or natural resources.
- This lesson helps students explore their community and critically reflect on ways we can help people adapt to climate change.
- Teacher can adapt the managed retreat activity in the Inspire section.
- Students can work in groups to design the plan and create a poster, brochure, or video in which they pitch the plan and describe how their plan preserves the residents’ sense of home while meeting their needs.
- Students can decide as a class on an appropriate location for a hypothetical managed retreat, then each pair can develop and present a plan for the same location. The class can role-play community members and vote on the best plan.
- Students can choose a place they have visited or lived in to create a managed retreat plan using this interactive map of the United States from Climate Central.
- As part of their managed retreat presentations, students can create a “kit” to help residents connect to their new location.
Prerequisites
- Students should have a basic understanding of climate change and be familiar with concepts such as evacuation, disaster relief, and rebuilding after natural disasters.
- Before teaching the lesson, teachers should become familiar with the two flood risk mapping tools: Risk Assessment Flood Tool (RAFT) & First Street.
- Teachers should be aware of any students who have previously been negatively impacted by flooding. This Teacher Guide on mental health and climate change includes resources for trauma-informed teaching.
Differentiation
- Teacher can assign the articles for the jigsaw in the Investigate section based on the differentiated reading levels.
- Students can create drawings or mind maps to use for their presentations to other groups in the second part of the jigsaw in the Investigate section.
- More advanced students can conduct research on local flooding events in the news and write a letter to the editor in which they propose managed retreat for the affected areas, or research how managed retreats are handled internationally.
From the scientist review
This lesson tracks the history of several community-managed retreats in response to flooding, with a focus on how managed retreat can be adapted to communities as a climate adaptation strategy. Featuring news sources and peer-reviewed academic literature, this lesson is highly credible in its presentation of climate science.
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About the teacher writer
Michael Aprill
Wisconsin State Lead
Michael Aprill, Ed.D., is SubjectToClimate's Wisconsin State Lead. He holds a Doctorate in Educational Sustainability from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and is a National Board Certified Teacher. He has taught Science, Physics, and Earth and Space Sciences for grades 9–12, including Advanced Placement, since 2001, bringing 25 years of experience in secondary science education.
