Climate Diaries of the Deep: Research on Ancient Environments

Actvity Summary: Students will be able to analyze foraminifera data to describe patterns in climate fluctuations throughout Earth’s history.

This lesson focuses on the use of data to study how Earth’s climate has changed over time. Students use foraminifera species sampled from JR Expedition 342 to determine the age of the sediment and the climate conditions during the sample ages. This lesson could be used as part of a unit on geologic history and the types of evidence that can be studied to understand how Earth has changed over time.

This lesson has been revised and updated based on How Do Scientists Conduct Research on Ancient Environments?

authors: Alyssa Weisenstein and Lindsay Mossa

National Science Education Content Standards:

Standard B: Science as inquiry
Standard E: Earth and space science

Next Generation Science Standards: Cross Cutting Concepts:

Patterns

Next Generation Science Standards: Science and Engineering Practices:

Analyzing and interpreting data

Next Generation Science Standards: Core Ideas:

ESS2.A Earth materials and systems