Relevant National Teaching Standards
Grade 5-8: Earth and Space Science Atmospheric Science
Grade 9-12: Earth and Space Science Atmospheric Science
Synopsis: Slowly, the globe confronts global warming. Quickly, the globe warms. But can we trust computerized climate models? What's happening to the oceans and the ice? Could warming damage your lungs?
Find
the article: The Fact
of Global Warming
Discussion
Questions
1. What is the Kyoto Protocol? What are its main goals?
2. What will happen to New Orleans and other sea-level regions if global warming trends continue, particularly with regard to rising ocean levels? Is there already a problem? What is being done about it?
3. Why do scientists use computer models to understand climate? Is there another way to answer questions about climate change?
4. Why is it important to test the predictions of computer models?
Lesson
Plans/Activities
1. Let's Debate! Have students research, organize and debate the pros and cons of the United States participating in the Kyoto Protocol. Conduct an in-class debate or have students explicate the pros & cons in an essay format.
2. What's YOUR Impact? Have students research/study the "Environmental Footprint" concept. What is it all about? How is consumption related to greenhouse gases and global warming? Then, have students use the Environmental Footprint Calculator to assess their personal environmental impact. Also, have students imagine they live somewhere else--like a big urban city, a small rural town or a completely different country--when they use the footprint calculator. How does environmental impact differ in these various places? Discuss why.
Take the: Quiz
Back to The Fact of Global Warming
