lesson plan about global warming

8/11/2019 Lesson Plan about Global Warming

1/4

Lesson Plan (Guide)

GLOBAL WARMING

I. Objectives:

1. The terms Greenhouse Effect, Climate Change, and Global Warming are often used

interchangeably, yet they really refer to three separate and distinct processes. In this presentation wewill show how the world is getting warmer.

2. Gases responsible for greenhouse effect that leads to global warming.

3. Causes, effects and possible solutions of global warming.

II. Activity (Motivation): True or False Game

The class will be grouped according to their respective groups. Each group will be given two

colored shapes, 1 red and 1 green. The red shape represents the answer as FALSE and the green

shape represents the answer as TRUE. Each question is worth 4 points. There is a time limit of 10

seconds in answering each question. Each group will raise their chosen shape as their answer when

times up. After the game, the group will total their scores and their scores will have an interpretation.

III. Presentation:

a.

Introduction

First, let us look at how the earths atmosphere is heated. The energy that heats the

atmosphere comes from the Sun, which is the source of huge energy. The sun sends its solar

radiation out into space and the earth intercepts only a small portion of it, about one part in two

billion which is a tremendous amount. One-half of that energy reaches the earths atmosphere is

reflected back out into space and about one-half reaches the surface. Once the suns energy reaches

the earths surface, it is absorbed and the temperature of the earths surface increases.

b.

Greenhouse Effect

To a certain degree, the earth acts like a greenhouse. Energy from the Sun penetrates the

glass of a greenhouse and warms the air and objects within the greenhouse. The same glass slows the

heat from escaping, resulting in much higher temperatures within the greenhouse than outside it.

Thus, greenhouse effect is referred to as the heat-trapping property in the atmosphere. The

greenhouse gases are responsible for the trapping of heat. Water vapor and carbon dioxide are the

main greenhouse gases. CFCs and methane also add to the greenhouse effect. The influence of men

in greenhouse gases:

Carbon Dioxide from Fossil fuel Combustion: (82%) Carbon Dioxide emitted from Cars, Trains.

Methane: (9%) methane, comes form landfills, coils, oil and gas operations and agriculture

Nitrous Oxide: (5%) Emitted from burning fossils fuels and through the use of certain fertilizers

and industrial processes

Human Made gases: (2%) Released as byproducts of industrial processes and through leakage.c.

Climate Change

Somehow, the term climate change is used interchangeably with global warming but they are

not the same. The relationship between climate change and global warming is that Global warming

(as well as global cooling) refers specifically to any change in the global average surface temperature.

Global warming is often misunderstood to imply that the world will warm uniformly. In fact, an

increase in average global temperature will also cause the circulation of the atmosphere to change,


2/4

resulting in some areas of the world warming more, others less. Some areas can even cool. Thus

climate change happens.

Climate change is less frightening than global warming . While global warming has

catastrophic connotations attached to it, climate change suggests a more controllable and less

emotional challenge.

d.

Global WarmingNow that we know how the earths atmosphere is heated up, let us talk about global warming

which is an undying issue for decades. But first, what is global warming?

Slowly, the ability of the earths atmosphere to absorb heat from the surface has increased

and, with it, the temperature of the atmosphere. This is known as global warming.

It refers to a rise of a temperature of the surface of the earth.

The discovery of global warming was largely credited to an American scientist by the name

ofWallace Smith Broecker.He was born on November 29th, 1931 in Chicago. He has 6 children and

his wife of 53 years passed away in 2007.

On August 8th, 1975, he published a paper in the Science magazine. The paper was titled

Are we on the brink of a pronounced global warming?, where he first used the term global

warming. Before that, the term was generally described as inadvertent climate modification by

other scientists. Wallace Broecker believed that the term, modification, was incorrect because the

concept of modification bears the possibility of change in either direction, meaning it could get

warmer or colder.

e.

Causes of Global Warming

1.

Increased carbon dioxide is the primary driver of global warming

CO2absorbs heat reflected from the Earths surfaceheat that would otherwise pass freely

into space. The CO2then releases that heat, warming the Earths atmosphere.

As CO2 levels increase, the pace of warming accelerates. Satellite measurements confirm

that less heat is escaping the atmosphere today than 40 years ago. Though other heat-trapping

gases also play a role, CO2is the primary contributor to global warming.The climate has changed many times in the geologic past due to natural causes including

volcanic activity, changes in the sunsintensity, fluctuations in Earth's orbit, and other factors

but none of these can account for the current rise in global temperatures.

2.

We are the primary cause of global warming.

Scientists can conclusively identify that human activity is responsible for the observed

increase in CO2. How? The carbon dioxide emitted by burning coal, natural gas, and oil has a

unique chemical fingerprint" and the additional CO2in the atmosphere bears that signature.

f.

Effects of Global Warming

1.

Accelerating sea level rise and increased coastal flooding

Average global sea level has increased eight inches since 1880, but is rising much faster on

the U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico.Global warming is now accelerating the rate of sea level

rise, increasing flooding risks tolow-lying communities and high-risk coastal properties whose

development has beenencouraged by today's flood insurance system.

2.

Longer and more damaging wildfire seasons

Wildfires are increasing and wildfire season is getting longer in the Western U.S. as

temperatures rise. Higher spring and summer temperatures and earlier spring snow-melt result in
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2246http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/files/2009/10/broeckerglobalwarming75.pdfhttp://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/files/2009/10/broeckerglobalwarming75.pdfhttp://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/files/2009/10/broeckerglobalwarming75.pdfhttp://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/infographic-sea-level-rise-global-warming.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/infographic-sea-level-rise-global-warming.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/preparing-for-sea-level-rise.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/flood-insurance-sea-level-rise.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/infographic-wildfires-climate-change.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/infographic-wildfires-climate-change.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/flood-insurance-sea-level-rise.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/preparing-for-sea-level-rise.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/infographic-sea-level-rise-global-warming.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/infographic-sea-level-rise-global-warming.htmlhttp://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/files/2009/10/broeckerglobalwarming75.pdfhttp://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2246http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2246


3/4


4/4

efficiency greenhouse effect emissionclimate change primary moon

sun Johann Elert Bode carbon dioxide

water vapor heats up James L. Elliot

cools down polar regions global warming

W.S. Broecker general shifts

A changing climate affects the range of plants and animals, changing their behavior and

causing disruptions up and down the food chain. The range of some warm-weather species will

expand, while those that depend on cooler environments willface shrinking habitats and

potential extinction.

g.

Solutions of Global Warming

1.

Reduce consumption of fossil fuels2. Reduce waste

3. Use solar power energy

4. Use clean coal and oil

5. Drive low emission and fuel efficiency vehicle

6. Plant more trees

IV. Evaluation:

Identification: Select the best answer in the box that best completes the statement or answers the

question. Write the answers on the line provided before the number.

1. (Global warming) refers to an increase in the average temperature near the Earths surface .

2. (Greenhouse effect) is referred to as the heat-trapping property in the atmosphere.

3. (Climate change) refers to the broader set of changes that go along with global warming,

including changes in weather patterns, the oceans, ice and snow, and ecosystems.

4.

Increased (carbon dioxide) is the primary driver of global warming.5. We are the (primary) cause of global warming.

6. The energy that heats the atmosphere comes from the (Sun) .

7. The earth (heats up) if the amount of solar energy is greater than the amount radiated.

8. The earth (cools down) if the amount of solar energy is less than the amount radiated.

9. 10. (water vapor) and (carbon dioxide) are the main greenhouse gases.

11.Climate change refers to (general shifts) in climate including temperature, precipitation, winds,

and other factors.

12.The discovery of global warming was largely credited to an American scientist by the name

(Wallace Smith Broecker) .

13.Temperatures are rising in the planets (polar regions) , especially in the Arctic.

14.

15. One solution of global warming is to drive low (emission) and fuel (efficiency)

vehicle.
http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/early-warning-signs-of-global-7.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/mammals-and-climate.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/mammals-and-climate.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/mammals-and-climate.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/early-warning-signs-of-global-7.html

lesson plan about global warming

Documents