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Summer of Heat Waves

A map of North America with state boundaries and temperature gradient coloring overlay. The temperature gradient ranges from white at 10 degrees centigrade and increasingly darker shades of red up to 40 degrees centigrade, which is the darkest shade of the range. The region around the great lakes and the altitude peaks appear a somewhat lighter shade of orange, but the vast majority of the map is in a solid red shade, with the West coast having much territory indistinguishable from black and the East coast also being a darker shade of red than more inland territory.
As summer heat hit the western and eastern U.S. in July 2024, temperatures have been especially high in the Southwest. View the full story
NASA Earth Observatory / Wanmei Liang
Levels
  • Advanced (9-12+)
Material Type
  • Lesson Plan
Heliophysics Big Ideas
  • Big Idea 1.3 – The Sun’s energy drives Earth’s climate…
NGSS
  • ESS2 - Earth's Systems
Heliophysics Topics
  • Climate Change
Related Missions
  • PACE (Earth)
Material Cost per Learner Free
Language English

Lesson Plan Overview

The extreme temperatures during July 2022 prompt students to investigate a model that displays historical heat wave frequency data to discover the importance of defining terms when interpreting data.

Procedure

  1. Have students read each of the sections: Extreme Air Temperatures, Frequency of Heat Waves, and Counting Heat Wave Days.
    • Each section has information followed by questions for the students to answer.
    • Have students answer the questions.
  2. Lead students through the final section, Counting Heat Wave Days.
    • Have students answer the questions.

Click here for the full My NASA Data lesson plan and similar activities.

Screenshot of the My NASA Data website landing page. It has an Earth showing the earth systems (atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere) and a list of resources on the page.
The landing page of the My NASA Data website.