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Sea Level Rise

This learning module is a cooperative effort between NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and NOAA’s National Ocean Service. It informs about sea level rise, its causes, and impacts; and challenges students to think about what they can do in response. This module features an integrated educational package of grade level-appropriate (6-12) instruction and activities centered on a 23-minute video presentation. Note that the video has scheduled pauses so educators may facilitate discussions of presented topics. Discussions will extend the total viewing time of the video.

Sea level rise module video. Scroll Down for Focus Question, 5E Learning Objectives, and NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) Alignment.


Focus Question: What is causing sea level rise and what can be done about it?

Pre-Video Viewing Activities

In-Conference Materials: (During Video Viewing Activities)

Sea Level rise Graph PDF – 1 per student

Post Video Viewing Activities

Teacher Background Information
Data in the Classroom
Calculating Your Carbon Footprint — Use this activity with the Climate Wheel Card.

5E Learning Objectives:

The learner will:
  • Engage: recall prior knowledge related to sea level and sea level rise.
  • Explore: explore resources and materials that indicate sea level is rising.
  • Explain: explain the causes of sea level rise.
  • Elaborate: apply new knowledge to understand how their actions impact sea level rise and climate change.
  • Evaluate: calculate their carbon footprint and determine what, if any, changes can be made.

Additional Resources:

Next Generation Science Standards

  • MS-ESS3-3: Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
  • MS-ESS3-5: Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
  • HS-ESS3-5: Analyze geoscience data and the results from global climate models to make an evidence-based forecast of the current rate of global or regional climate change and associated future impacts to Earth systems.
  • HS-ESS3-6: Use a computational representation to illustrate the relationships among Earth systems and how those relationships are being modified due to human activity.
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