I borrowed heavily from this series of videos from the Ambitious Science Teaching website to put the snowshoe hare phenomenon together. I have modified it where necessary to fit the curriculum.

I had students build a conceptual model that they revise a couple of times throughout this unit as they complete different learning experiences. All of the learning experiences are designed so that they add new knowledge and understanding that students apply to the snowshoe hare phenomenon. 

In this phenomenon, students explore agriculture and climate change through a study of cocoa production. Usually, production of plant based foods are lower in carbon emissions, but it turns out that cocoa is pretty high - much higher than one would expect for a plant. 

There are a number of things I would revise in this study, specifically the engineering design component needs to be flushed out a bit more. 

Coming soon!

This case study is adapted from this article which outlines how the Inuit in the Northwest Territories are making crucial observations of the changes happening on the land. The rapidly changing landscape is mostly due to climate change. The impacts to the land and water are being felt by the communities in the north as it is affecting food sources they depend on. Students explore the ecosystem changes happening, and how it impacts the communities who live there. 

I am grateful to have co-created this case study alongside Abigail Zamin, a colleague with so many wonderful ideas and outdoor education experiences.