New York Is Building a Wall to Hold Back the Ocean
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Vox
What it is
- This video is a collaboration between Vox and Curbed that discusses infrastructure adaptations taking place in some coastal areas that attempt to address sea level rise and coastal erosion from storms and strong waves.
- The video highlights Staten Island, which has received funding to build a sea wall to prevent coastal erosion along a portion of its shore.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This video introduces students to several topics: climate adaptation, climate resilience, coastal erosion, sea walls, sea level rise, and flooding.
- The description below the video provides links to additional research and climate-related content.
Prerequisites
- There may be an ad at the beginning of the video.
- Students should understand climate change and that increased extreme weather and flooding are a result of it.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Teachers can use this resource when discussing the relationship between ocean warming, sea level rise, flooding, and storms.
- Advanced students can work in groups and create a protection plan for this island, which could include resilient infrastructure, walls, or other new ideas.
- Other related resources include Youth Climate Story: Sea Level Rise In Massachusetts and Sea Level Rise: Climate Change Impacts.
From the scientist review
This resource explains how Staten Island wants to build a 5-mile-long sea wall to protect itself from rising sea levels. Please note as of 2021, the project has been delayed, and it does not appear that construction has yet begun. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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