JoinAll Case Studies
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In keyword search, list the criteria you would like to find cases. Multiple criteria can be listed separated by commas (i.e. directed, high school)
Educational levels are defined as follows: Elementary, Middle, High School, College
Types of cases are defined as follows: Analysis/Issues, Clicker, Debate, Intimate Debate, Demonstration, Dilemma/Decision, Directed, Discussion, Interrupted, Jig-saw, Journal Article, Laboratory, Student Presentations, Mini-case, Problem-Based Learning, Public Hearing, Role-Play, Trial, Flipped, Game
By Daniel Elias, Jadejah Robinson, Aazah Daniel
In this case study, students explore the impacts of atmospheric events such as El Niño and the trade winds on water scarcity. Set within the geographical and socioeconomical context of Jamaica, students discuss strategies and solutions to improve wa...
By Margaret A. Holzer, Carrie A. Ferraro, Malin L. Pinsky, Rebecca L. Selden, Eva A. Papaioannou
This interrupted case study explores how climate change is impacting the distribution and abundance of fish species, how fishers and fishing communities are adapting to shifts in species ranges and abundances, and how we can effectively manage fish s...
By Ruth S. Bowers-Sword, Jack C. Doss, Bruce A. Wiggins
This interrupted case study focuses on a biological phenomenon known as temperature-dependent sex determination to guide students through the scientific method. Using the endangered green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, as a model, students prepare for c...
By Matthew L. Simon, Nathan A. Quarderer
Consider evidence that we are in a period of rapidly warming climate, likely with anthropogenic causation. Understand that humans can be severely impacted by short-term climatic events. Understand that the functioning of global ecosystems reli...
An Investigation into Ocean Acidification
By Diara D. Spain, Vanessa M. Mendoza
This directed case study covers fundamental information about ocean acidification using relevant examples from general science news articles as well as data excerpted from scientific research. It was developed for general environmental science classe...
By Adela M. Acosta
In this case study, “Tatiana,” a college student, introduces psychrometry to her younger brother as she explains the physical phenomenon of dew. This everyday scenario is used to demonstrate the relationship between moisture content in the air an...
Which Elephant Population Would You Protect?
By Andrea M.-K. Bierema
This case study has students analyze real population and climate data to address a problem in conservation. Many elephant populations exist in Africa, but if a conservation group had funding to supply a grant to just one population, which one should ...
By David W. Kelley
This case study reviews the hydrologic cycle and uses a water balance equation to examine the hydrology of White Bear Lake, a 2,531-acre natural water body near St. Paul, Minnesota. Since 2004, lake water levels have fallen five feet below their ordi...
By Ashley E. Rhodes
Loss of species richness is often due to anthropogenic activity. The global decline of amphibians is one such example. This case study examines the impact of road deicing agents on amphibians living near bridges and roads treated heavily with salt du...
The Perilous Plight of the Pika
By Fleur M. Ferro
This interrupted case study addresses several concepts related to climate change and its effect on the American pika. Often called an indicator species for climate change, the pika has a unique set of variables specific to its environment. Factors su...
Global Climate Change: What Does it Look Like?
By Ronald L. Carnell, Rebecca M. Price
In this interrupted case study, Ph.D.-paleoclimatologist-turned-TV-meteorologist Sara Fahrenheit finds herself projected into a future climate that reminds her of the Early Eocene: it's hot, it's humid, and seems tropical. The story is a vehicle for ...
By Md Rumi Shammin, John Petersen, Jordan F. Suter
This role-playing case on climate change policy is designed to engage student groups in parallel discussions on policy instruments and packages for controlling greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, student groups discuss cap-and-trade and carbon ta...
Global Climate Change: Evidence and Causes
By Maureen Knabb, Timothy M. Lutz, G. Winfield Fairchild
This “clicker case” begins by assessing students’ impressions of global climate change and the role that human activities play in recent global warming trends. Students assume the role of an intern working for a U.S. senator. They need to under...
Global Climate Change: Impact and Remediation
By Maureen Knabb, Timothy M. Lutz
This “clicker case” is a continuation of another case in our collection, “Global Climate Change: Evidence and Causes,” in which students assumed the role of an intern working for a U.S. senator so that they could advise the senator on future ...
By Juanita Constible, Luke Sandro, Richard E. Lee, Jr. (rr)
As the carbon dioxide concentration of our atmosphere increases and our climate warms, the hay fever season seems to be getting longer and more severe. In this case study, students assume the a role of a public relations specialist contracted to comm...
By Rachael A. Lancor
This case study of Hurricane Katrina chronicles a college student's adventures with the Hurricane Hunters, a group of people from the Air Force Reserve who fly into the middle of hurricanes to collect atmospheric data for the National Oceanic and Atm...
Cancel the Cardinals Home Opener?!?
By Patrick S. Market
The St. Louis Cardinals are scheduled to play their home opener the next day and Megan Riley, a young meteorologist who works for a private weather consulting firm, is responsible for developing the weather forecast. It’s starting to look like she ...
By Bruce C. Allen, Clyde Freeman Herreid
The goal of this dilemma case study is to teach students about global climate change. The setting is a faculty meeting where the discussion has turned to a petition circulating in the scientific community against signing the Kyoto Treaty.  ...