Activity Summary: Students will be able to analyze multiple sources to make a claim that changes in Earth’s climate can be caused by interactions among many different factors as evidenced by the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum.
In this lesson, students analyze ocean sediment cores to describe changes in sediment color, origin, magnetic susceptibility, and calcium carbonate content. Students then use this evidence to relate to the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a significant climate event in Earth’s history. Before conducting this lesson, it is recommended students are familiar with climate and factors that affect it.
This lesson has been revised and updated based on Global Change Today and Lessons from the PETM.
authors: Andrea Wright and Lindsay Mossa
- Patterns
- Cause and effect
- Energy and matter
- Stability and change
- Analyzing and interpreting data
- Engaging in argument from evidence
- ESS1. C The history of the planet Earth
- ESS2.A Earth materials and systems
- ESS2.B Plate tectonics and large-scale system interactions
- ESS2. D Weather and climate