Earth at Night - Human Impact

Earth at night is a fascinating way to explore where and why humans live—and why some areas remain dark. In this lesson, students will examine nighttime images of our planet, comparing one image to another taken at a different time. The colorized data highlights where lights have increased or decreased over time, offering clues about human activity, growth, and change.

What’s happening in this map? What do you notice that makes you think that?

In this short activity, students will sharpen their critical thinking skills by making careful observations, forming ideas, and backing them up with evidence.

While these maps connect to topics like energy use, human impact, remote sensing, and population density, the real goal is to help students slow down, look closely, ask thoughtful questions, and support their ideas with strong evidence. However, if you’re covering these topics in your lessons, this activity could be a great addition!

• Week 3 - Published November 18, 2024
• Best suited for 6-12+ grades
• NGSS - ESS3-1.A: Natural Resources

• Teacher Guide
• Student Worksheet
• Presentation Slides

Nighttime Lights

The classic satellite shot of the Earth from space at night has given us a new way to view Earth... the human way.