In this wildfires science activity, students take on the role of wildfire scientists to analyze environmental conditions, fuel types, and ignition sources to predict which locations are most at risk and why. Perfect for a middle school natural hazards unit or an NGSS MS-ESS3-2 activity!
This activity focuses on the true intent of NGSS MS-ESS3-2 by having students evaluate patterns in temperature, humidity, wind speed, vegetation type, burn rate, and ignition data to make evidence-based decisions about wildfire risk and potential spread.
This resource includes:
- Part One: Determining Wildfire Risk – Students analyze environmental data (temperature, humidity, wind speed, vegetation) for five locations and use a scoring system to calculate and compare wildfire risk levels, including a CER question.
- Part Two: How Fuel Type Affects Wildfire – Students use a burn rate data table for 11 vegetation types found in a town to create a bar graph and analyze which areas are most at risk for rapid fire spread, including a CER question.
- Part Three: Ignition Sources – Students examine natural vs. human-caused ignition scenarios and analyze factors such as heat, duration, contact with vegetation, and spark production to determine which scenario poses the greatest ignition risk, including a CER question.
Teacher Notes:
- This wildfires science activity is designed for an upper-middle school audience. Students are guided step-by-step through each analysis. No prior knowledge of wildfires is required!
- Answer keys are always included.
- Please note that this resource is not editable.
- NGSS MS-ESS3-2: Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects.
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