Evidence for climate change - data handling

This is a short standalone activity linked with the topic of climate change, global warming and icecap melting. It is intended to develop higher-order thinking skills and understanding of data. It aims to provide an opportunity for cognitive conflict and discussion.
There are two ways this task can be attempted:

1. Allow the students to work through the first two set of tasks sequentially. Hand out only the sheet with a triangle in the top right of the page. When this is completed, hand out only the sheet with the square. Finally, when this is completed give out the third and final sheet with questions 4 onwards.

Alternatively…

1. One half of class is given the first sheet, marked with a triangle. The other half is given the ones marked with a square. Pupils work on their own sheets independently. After a few minutes, pupils who have completed different sheets pair up. They compare their sheets and answer the questions on the third sheet together.

When this was tested, pupils responded well to the tricky questions.