Spotlite Design Challenge: Land Detectives
Developed in Collaboration with NASA Earth Science Education Collaborative.
Follow these steps to think and act like scientists as you dig through data and experiment to support a claim that confronts a misconception.
- Select one of the MISCONCEPTIONS and its related CLAIM to investigate.
- Do your own RESEARCH by conducting investigations to gather data and collect evidence to support your claim.
- Review the Criteria for the Spotlite video.
- Create the Spotlite video.
Identify the problem: As NASA Land Detectives, you are challenged to gather and share evidence to confront misconceptions about Earth's land cover. Land cover is what is on Earth's surface, such as trees, grass, pavement, and buildings.
MISCONCEPTION 1: Land cover does not change.
CLAIM 1: Human activity can change land cover.
CLAIM 2: Natural phenomena can change land cover.
CLAIM 3: Land cover can change slowly or quickly.
Demonstration and Experimentation Ideas
Learn more about land covering
Use GLOBE and the GLOBE Observer app to learn more about land covering.
- GLOBE Observer [2:45] video
- Why Observe Land Cover? [7:40] video
- Land Cover Walk Activity Guide
- Land Cover Classification Chart
- Record sheets (included in the activity guide)
- Stopwatches
- Clipboards (one for each group of two or three participants)
- Pens or pencils
- Printed maps of the walking route
Observe changes in land covering over time
Science Information Links
MISCONCEPTION 2: The land cover of an area does not matter.
CLAIM 1: Habitats are impacted by land cover.
CLAIM 2: Communities are impacted by land cover.
CLAIM 3: Land cover influences the water cycle.
CLAIM 4: Land cover influences temperature.
Demonstration and Experimentation Ideas
Learn more about land covering
Use GLOBE and the GLOBE Observer app to learn more about land covering.
Science Information Links
Check out these webcams to look for visible aurora.
- Why Observe Land Cover?
- Land Cover Science
- Changes in Land Use/Land Cover
- Land Cover Classification
- Urban Heat Island for Students
NASA cares about the safety of all learners!
Safety is important anytime you conduct a science investigation. Common sense guidelines should govern all work.
- Keep all workspaces neat and organized.
- Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as closed-toed shoes.
- Follow directions and ask for clarification.