Have students discuss what the weather and climate is for their community and the larger region they live in. Start with what students already know. What are “normal” conditions like? What are seasonal changes like? What are some weather extremes they have experienced? Has the climate always been this way? What was it like when older generations in the community were growing up? How is that similar or different to the other geographic regions of North Dakota? How has the weather and climate influenced how and where people live in North Dakota? How do these natural resources relate to the other major industries in North Dakota (agriculture, energy, and tourism)? How do students know what they already know? Talk about what their knowledge is based on. Have they read about it before, or saw it in a movie or television show?