Advancing AI Literacy Lessons

Mapping Change: Visualizing Deforestation Patterns Over Time

Environmental Science | 9-12
Duration: 70 minutes
Author: Gary Leary, Science Department and Instructional Technology Chair

In this lesson, students analyze satellite imagery to uncover patterns of deforestation over time and represent these changes using layered maps and overlays. Working in small groups, they trace forest cover from different years, compare overlays to identify areas of forest loss, and discuss possible causes based on spatial clues like roads or agricultural fields. Students then interpret the significance of these changes and predict future impacts on biodiversity, climate, and communities. The lesson also introduces how AI and machine learning are used to automate image classification and detect deforestation patterns at scale, prompting students to consider the strengths and limitations of technology compared to human observation.

Lesson Plan Series

  1. Earth Under Observation: Exploring AI, Satellites, and Land Cover
  2. Mapping Change: Visualizing Deforestation Patterns Over Time
  3. Deforestation and Machine Learning

Lesson Objectives

  • Analyze satellite images from different years to identify patterns of forest cover change.
  • Create layered maps and overlays that visually represent deforestation over time.
  • Interpret spatial patterns to infer possible human and environmental causes of deforestation.
  • Predict potential future impacts of continued deforestation on biodiversity, climate, and communities.
  • Evaluate the role of AI and machine learning in monitoring deforestation, considering strengths and limitations compared to human observation.

Essential Questions

  • How do satellite images help us understand changes in Earth’s landscapes over time?
  • What patterns of deforestation can we observe, and what do they reveal about human activity?
  • Why is it important to track deforestation, and what could happen if these patterns continue?
  • How might AI and machine learning transform the way we monitor environmental changes?
  • What are the strengths and limitations of using technology versus human observation in environmental science?

Digital Resources

Lesson Plan

Assessment Rubric

Instructional Considerations