Feeling the Heat

Lisa Gardiner, Windows to the Universe/UCAR SciEd

In this activity, students learn about the urban heat island effect by investigating which areas of their schoolyard have higher temperatures - trees, grass, asphalt, and other materials. Based on their results, they hypothesize how concentrations of surfaces that absorb heat might affect the temperature in cities - the urban heat island effect. Then they analyze data about the history of Los Angeles heat waves and look for patterns in the Los Angeles climate data and explore patterns.

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Notes from our reviewers

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Review data collection strategies and behavior before going outside.
Good use of scientific data in a classroom setting. More information on the science behind why paved areas are hotter is missing and is needed to really foster the understanding and implications. The link between the measurements and heat waves is not strong enough in the exercise and should be emphasized more by the teacher. Reference materials are listed. Comments from expert scientist: In terms of microclimates, the activity is very good, with lots of student interaction and physical activities to demonstrate temperature trend and incorporating math and science into the activities.This activity falls well short of demonstrating the urban heat island. The urban heat island is primarily a nighttime phenomena.
Nice mix of student-collected data and analysis in a local area to construct hypotheses, followed by a kinesthetic activity to link local findings to larger contexts. No assessment strategies are provided; questions don't really provoke additional curiosity. Handouts available (all of the materials needed for the Los Angeles heat wave analysis are provided). Good description of steps.