Global heat map showing average surface temperatures. Warmer regions in red and orange dominate near the equator across Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia, while cooler regions in blue appear near the poles and across the oceans.

Data Lens - Exploring Earth's Visual Stories

Data Lens - Exploring Earth's Visual Stories

Data Lens activities equip teachers with tools to help their students engage with and understand complex scientific data. Informed by Visual Thinking Strategies, each exercise includes a timely global map that can stand alone or open a discussion into a relevant classroom unit of study. When used regularly, these activities may help to increase data literacy skills in your classroom.

Sign up to receive Data Lens directly to your email inbox every few weeks! The activity remains fairly consistent week to week, making implementation easy!

View a recorded webinar demonstrating Data Lens and other visual and data literacy techniques.

Get Started for more on how and why to use Data Lens in your classroom.

If you have any questions, email sos.contact@noaa.gov.

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Group seated around large globe display while presenter leads session in dark room.
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Map of 2024 Arctic summer sea ice minimum showing concentration and median extent line.

Resources

Program Team

Publications

Science scope logo

Semmens, K., Sickler, J., Maxfield, K., Goldner, M., Curry, D., Peddicord, H., … Carr, R. H. (2024). Building Insights Through Observation: Integrating Art and Science to Support SensemakingScience Scope48(2), 30–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/08872376.2025.2463906

 

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