NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

SUMMARY

According to a new study, the planet is drying at an unprecedented pace, presenting a critical threat to humanity. Researchers found that “continental drying is having profound global impacts” that “threaten water availability” across the globe. To learn more, Ali Rogin speaks with ProPublica climate investigations editor Abrahm Lustgarten for our series, Tipping Point.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Why is so much of the earth drying out, according to the Arizona State study?
2. Who is causing the planet to dry out, according to Abrahm Lustgarten's reporting?
3. How does NASA use satellite imaging to track the evolution of land drying out?
4. When did the drying out of the earth begin to intensify, according to the researchers, so much so that they they felt compelled to state, according to Lustgarten: "the disappearance of groundwater from the world's aquifers is a critical, emerging threat to humanity"?
5. Where are the "mega drying regions" on the planet, according to the study?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

1. Were your surprised to learn about the findings by Arizona State researchers? Why or why not?
2. People watching stories about the environment sometimes experience climate anxiety, a heightened emotional response to climate change. What are some ways people can work to protect the environment that might reduce some of this anxiety?

Media literacy: How do the graphics used in this story help to explain how the planet is drying out? Do you think more journalists should include data science and graphics in their stories?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

A. Check out News Hour Classroom's Invention Education curriculum. Invention Ed helps students to see themselves as inventors and use their already awesome creative and inventive thinking to come up with solutions to problems. We have several invention lessons on the environment and climate change here: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/classroom/search?q=invedenvironment

B. One way to deal with climate anxiety is to talk with a family member, neighbor or friend about your concerns. Start with this Daily News Lesson! Watch the piece again. Then take a look at the images from the segment. What questions do you have about the information in the graphics? Do you live in an area that is being impacted at a higher rate by the drying of the planet? What are your local and state leaders doing to address the issue? How could you find out, if you are not sure?

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