What's Happening to the Pikas?

Duration: 50 minutes

Grade Levels: K-3

In this unplugged computational thinking activity, learners will work in teams
to investigate how human actions have impacted pikas.
They will look for patterns to explore how climate change is threatening the pika’s survival.

Grade Levels: K-3

Duration: 50 minutes

Concepts/Skills: Computational thinking, pattern recognition, climate change

Objectives: 

  • Learn about the American pika.
  • Use pattern recognition to sort cards containing information about the pika and its environment.
  • Share the patterns they found and develop theories as a class on why the pika population is dwindling.

Climate Standards Connections

Next Generation Science Standards
Grade Performance Expectation Description
K K-ESS3-3 Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.
Climate Change Connections human impact
Clarification Statement & Assessment Boundary Examples of human impact on the land could include cutting trees to produce paper and using resources to produce bottles. Examples of solutions could include reusing paper and recycling cans and bottles.