Today's students will be faced, through all of their adult years, with decisions related to energy use. For these students to make intelligent and responsible choices, one thing they need to comprehend are the underlying scientific principles of the greenhouse effect. They also need to be able to judge the merit of scientific studies related to the global warming controversy. The controversy on the greenhouse effect and global climate change has not been resolved. Some scientists believe our climate is changing, largely due to human activities. Other groups of scientists believe the temperature changes we are experiencing are part of the normal climate fluctuations of the Earth. Perhaps additional evidence will answer many of the climate change questions within the lifetime of your students. As additional evidence is found, students will need to be able to judge the validity of the information presented in the media.
Science: Global Warming & the Greenhouse Effect
The science portion of this interdisciplinary unit focuses on providing students with some
first-hand experience with the greenhouse effect. Students will be involved in an activity
designed to illustrate the nature of the greenhouse effect. They will also use bromothymol
blue solution (BTB) to test for the presence of carbon dioxide, as gas is believed to play a
key role in global climate change. Using BTB, students will be able to determine the
relative carbon dioxide content of samples of room air, car exhaust, exhaled air, and
relatively pure CO2. Finally, each student will develop a personal action plan designed
to curb their contribution to greenhouse gases.
Math: Greenhouse Gases
The mathematics portion of this unit revolves around the greenhouse gases. Students
learn that the four major types of greenhouse gases have different abilities to trap heat
within Earth's atmosphere. Students build three-dimensional models to illustrate the
relative heat-trapping ability of each gas. In the second activity, students keep a diary of
their electrical energy use for one day. From this data, students are able to determine
their personal contribution, for that day, to the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere. This
helps students to realize that they can, in fact, take some steps to help reduce greenhouse
gases. Every individual has an impact! Finally, students study how planting trees helps
to absorb carbon dioxide. Students are challenged to develop an advertising campaign
designed to convince people to plant more trees to help alleviate the increased
concentrations of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.
Language Arts: The Great Debate
The language arts portion of this unit revolves around games. The first activity involves
debating, sometimes called "the game of wits." Debating has its own set of rules, resulting in
winners and losers. Activity 2 offers the students a chance to create their own set of rules for
an original game. The optional activity suggested is a play which allows the students to
creatively present one issue that affects us all. The focus of these activities is on critical and
creative thinking. Students will have the opportunity to express themselves through oral and
written communication.
Social Studies: Energy Trade-Offs
The social studies portion of this interdisciplinary unit focuses on world trade, with an
emphasis on energy resources. Students play the roles of resource specialists for six real
countries. Provided with knowledge of what their country has and what they need, students
proceed to engage in trade with other countries in an effort to meet the needs of their own
country. Students are provided with trading cards representing their country's food supply,
energy resources and manufactured goods. An interesting twist is thrown in by also giving
the countries involved cards representing nuclear waste. The point values on their cards
indicate the number of units involved. Through this exercise, students will come to a number
of conclusions regarding the world perspective on energy resources and relationships between
countries. They will likely come to realize that it may not be possible to meet the needs of
every nation. This presents a number of issues that are ideal for discussion with middle
school students.
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