climate change impacts
on agriculture
Activity from FoodSpan Learning’s “Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture” 2016,
accessed November 11, 2018
78
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Display the Drought graphic
2. Ask: What happened to these crops? How might climate change have been responsible?
These Texas corn crops were killed by drought—an extreme weather event that occurs more
frequently because of climate change.
3. Ask participants to brainstorm other climate change-related events.
4. Use guiding questions to emphasize the following major aspects of climate change:
a. Rising sea level
b. Extreme heat
c. Changes in rainfall patterns
d. More frequent and intense extreme weather events (e.g., droughts, hurricanes, flooding)
5. Write each aspect of climate change (listed above) on large pieces of paper and post them
around the room.
6. Then, write the followingimpacts on the board:
a. Loss of topsoil
b. Fungus invasion
c. Saltwater contamination of freshwater supply
d. Increase in a crop’s water needs
e. Higher food prices
f. Depletion of freshwater sources for irrigation
7. As you reach each impact aloud, ask participants to move to (or point out) which aspect of
climate change they believe is responsible for that impact.
8. Give each group of gathered participants one to two minutes to discuss why they selected this
aspect.
9. Ask one volunteer from each group to share with the class.
PRINT
TIME: 20 minutes
PURPOSE: Analyze how climate change impacts agriculture
MATERIALS:
• Drought Slide (on page 83)
• Climate Change Impacts Guide (to aid in answering student’s questions)
• Four pieces of paper
• Tape (if not using sticky paper)
• Chalk/White board
• Chalk or Markers (for board)