Ecology evo-edu.org

Climate-linked range-change investigations for habitat shift, mismatch, and environmental response.

Teacher Guide

Climate Range Shifter teacher guide

Use this guide to turn the app into a structured ecology lesson about climate movement, lagging biological response, and evidence-based explanation.

Open application Learner guide Standards

Quick Start

Recommended band

Upper middle school through introductory college ecology, depending on how much you emphasize model interpretation.

Typical duration

One 25-40 minute investigation or a longer paired lesson with discussion and CER writing.

Device assumptions

Laptop or tablet preferred. The workbench is responsive, but comparing runs is easier with a wider display.

Teacher Moves

Set up the question

  • Begin with a concrete story about conditions moving geographically.
  • Ask what should count as tracking success, lag, or failure to keep pace.
  • Keep environmental change distinct from biological response.

During the run

  • Have learners change one factor at a time.
  • Ask them to justify whether mismatch or occupancy changed more and why.
  • Require comparison between at least two runs before explanation.

Suggested Evidence Tasks

Prompt

Which matters more in your comparison: climate velocity, tracking rate, or habitat breadth? Use the run outputs as evidence.

Listen for

  • Separation of observed output from inferred ecological story.
  • Willingness to revise initial expectations after a counterexample run.
  • Recognition that persistence and mismatch are not the same thing.