What's the Bigger Picture? Using the Power of Art to Teach Science

Notes from our reviewers

The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials.

• Teaching Tips
  Science and art teachers should connect on this activity since it bridges the two disciplines. Each could focus on their expertise while supporting students. Teachers should select a number of datasets for students to use in this activity that are grade-level appropriate. Some of the graphs may be too high level for middle school students and others who do not have data interpretation skills. More advanced students could work independently to find primary resources with credible graphs.
• About the Science
  This resource provides a detailed lesson plan that allows students to make their own art from selected climate-change graphs. Example graphs from peer-reviewed primary literature are provided from journals such as Science and NASA. Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.
• About the Pedagogy
  Students use art to convey their interpretations of climate data. This lesson includes an 11-step lesson plan, rubric, worksheet for students, and links to all primary literature. The educator can use the lesson plan in its entirely, or in parts. The plan allows for modification for time and audience skill level. The lesson plan includes opportunities for group discussion and individual reflection. This lesson is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.
• Technical Details/Ease of Use
  Accessibility of the data may be an issue for teachers who cannot get behind the paywall of some of the suggested datasets, but many are publicly available. Although the activity provides a scaffold for students to use to interpret the data, teachers need to understand the chosen data to effectively support the students. This activity may require educators to print screenshots of graphs from primary literature. Alternatively, students could hand-copy the general trends of the graphs in their artwork. The "Sources of Graphs" PDF includes several broken links and some links with older data. Students should use current science in their artwork.