Route Debate

This worksheet is designed for Grades 7, 8, and 9 and guides students through an in-depth case study of the Northwest Passage, focusing on how melting Arctic ice is changing global trade routes and international relationships. Through close reading and higher-level analysis, students examine climate change data, environmental risks, political tensions, and economic opportunities while practicing synthesis, inference, and evidence-based reasoning.

Instructional Objectives

• Case Study Analysis (Grades 7-9) – Analyze a real-world geographic issue involving climate change and global trade
• Climate Science & Geography – Understand how Arctic ice conditions influence accessibility and navigation routes
• Global Politics & Economics – Examine international disagreements, trade interests, and environmental concerns
• Critical Thinking & Synthesis – Connect scientific information to political, economic, and environmental consequences

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Developed by educators to support advanced reasoning and cross-curricular learning
• Higher-Level Questioning – Requires students to evaluate, infer, and synthesize information across multiple domains
• Discussion-Ready – Ideal for small-group debate, whole-class discussion, or written response assignments
• Flexible Use – Suitable for social studies, geography, or climate units in classroom or homeschool settings

This Route Debate worksheet helps students practice analyzing complex, real-world problems shaped by climate change and global interaction. By evaluating the Northwest Passage through multiple perspectives, learners strengthen analytical reading, geographic reasoning, and written explanation skills. Whether used as a standalone case study or part of a larger unit, this printable resource supports deep thinking, informed discussion, and meaningful engagement with contemporary global issues.