Learning Objectives

Students will read a recent science news article and discuss the content.
Depending the on the article, students may be asked to draw connections to current events or other classroom exercises.

Standards Addressed

Depending on the article, one of these standards may be most appropriate:

Subject Area - 1: Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening

     Standard Area - 1.3: Reading, Analyzing, and Interpreting Literature - Fiction and Non-Fiction

          Grade Level - 1.3.6: GRADE 6

               Standard - 1.3.6.A: Read, understand, and respond to works from various genres of literature

                    Assessment Anchor - R6.A.2: Understand nonfiction appropriate to grade level.
 

Preparation Time Needed

<30 minutes, enough time to read the article and associated questions, answer the questions, and possibly come up with more that are relevant to recent class exercises. 

Activity Description

(Part of the PAESTA In The News - Current Events in Earth and Space Science Series. This series compiles current resources and background materials for recent scientific events in the news. Questions are provided with each topic, written across Bloom's Taxonomic Scale, and can be used for classroom discussion and/or as a writing prompt at the beginning/middle/end of an instructional unit.)

Extreme heat was felt across the United States in the summer of 2011, breaking and setting new records for daytime and evening temperatures. A heat wave is a natural disaster, a “silent killer” for people that are caught unprepared. The impact is being felt beyond humans, and will be felt beyond 2011.

Articles to Share with Students

• Heat Wave Sweeps Across the U.S. - NOAA
• Heat: The “Most Dangerous Natural Disaster” - NPR
• Massive Heat Wave Could Cause Corn Prices to Pop – NPR
• Heat Waves and Extremely High Temperatures could be Commonplace in the U.S. by 2039, Stanford Study Finds

General Information

• Temperature – New York Times Science Topics
• Heat – NPR broadcasts and stories

Questions for Classroom Discussion

• Define heat wave.
• Why does a heat wave occur? Where geographically can a heat wave occur?
• How do heat waves impact humans?
• How do heat waves impact the environment?
• Why should scientists study heat waves?
• Will we experience more heat waves in the future? Explain.

Compiled July 23, 2011, by L.A. Guertin. Teachers are encouraged to search for more recent articles and related discoveries.