Tangier Island Residents Work to Preserve Culture Threatened by Rising Sea Levels
Ask students: What is happening to Tangier Island? How much has the landmass of the island decreased since 1850?
Rising waters due to climate change and erosion are diminishing the landmass of Tangier Island, Virginia, a tiny speck of land in the Chesapeake Bay, and threatening a centuries-old culture fostered by the island’s isolation. PBS News Student Reporting Labs’ Sabrina Tomei reports on how the community is trying to restore their land and preserve their history and traditions.
Key Term
Coastal erosion — the wearing away of land surfaces and loss of beach, shoreline or dune material as a result of natural or coastal processes or human-induced influences
Discussion Questions
- Who is Cameron Evans?
- What is happening to Tangier Island?
- How much has the landmass of the island decreased since 1850?
- Why is it difficult for people to stay and work on the island?
- What does Evans hope to see in the future for the island?
Focus Questions
Vice Mayor Cameron Evans has been photographing the island to document the environmental changes over time. In what ways do you think the island has changed over the last few decades? Explain your response.
Media literacy: Do you know of other communities that are impacted by the climate crisis?
Lesson Plans on Climate Change
Explore more resources for educators to find a wide-range of relevant preK-12 lessons on climate change or supporting young people as they continue to lead the conversation around the climate change crisis.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of NewsHour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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