Curated OER
Global Warming: Life in a Greenhouse
Young scholars examine the evidence that scientists have used to support the existence of global warming and the greenhouse effect. How the concepts have been developed and evaluated form the focus of this lesson.
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Lab 1: Nanocatalysts Clean Your Car Emissions
What a big job for such a small particle. Young scientists learn about the role of nanoparticles in catalytic converters for cars. They conduct an experiment to create alginate-MnO2 catalytic spheres.
Curated OER
Air Pollution and Health
Middle schoolers use Internet research to become familiar with the environmental and health effects of the six criteria pollutants identified by the U.S. EPA, along with the greenhouse effect and carbon dioxide.
Curated OER
Illuminating Climate Change: Connecting Lighting and Global Warming
Students analyze energy usage and connect energy usage to fossil fuel consumption. In this global warming and pollution lesson, students what fuels are used to generate electricity and how much CO2 each fuel produces, then graph the...
Curated OER
Personal Emissions Calculator
Students complete the personal emissions grid and review information on carbon footprints. Using directions, they create their own emissions calculator and determine how much carbon dioxide they emit in a given period of time. They...
Discovery Education
Drive it Green
Explore and brainstorm innovations for cars with a STEM activity that asks scholars to weigh different options when considering when buying a car. They research the fuel efficiency and carbon emissions for various options, and then...
Curated OER
Iron Fertilization - Pumping Iron
The theory that adding iron to ocean water may increase phytoplankton ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is examined. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute is monitoring conditions off the California coast to...
Curated OER
Teaching English: Reducing Emissions by Cycling
In this ESL learning exercise, students analyze an abstract picture and create the persona of a cyclist. Students cut apart cards with controversial statements regarding cycling and discuss them. Students then discuss what they...
Curated OER
Greenhouse Gasses
Pupils study words in the news. They explore vocabulary including "climate change" and discuss its meanings and related meanings. They read a text about climate change and carbon dioxide emissions and answer questions. They complete...
Curated OER
Tread Lightly: Low Carbon Lunch
Students create a flowchart of the carbon footprint of food from production to disposal. For this biology lesson, students brainstorm ways to reduce greenhouse gases by smart food choices. They create a blog promoting ways to eat low...
Wild BC
Greenhouse Gas Line-Up
Discuss different sources of energy and how much greenhouse gas each might emit. The six sources are then ranked according to emissions from greatest to least. Finally, the true cumulative emissions are revealed to show the class how...
Curated OER
People Changing the Atmosphere Lab
Students examine ways to reduce the greenhouse effect. Students keep a "CO2 Journal" to help establish a connection between their own behavior and its impact on global warming as well as discover ways to reduce global warming.
Carnegie Mellon University
Understanding Electricity Mix Tradeoffs
Use the accompanying presentation and colorful technology sheets to introduce your class to the 10 different energy technologies. Connect kids to an interactive computer tool that allows them to combine different types of power...
Curated OER
Eating Up Energy
Students will compare and contrast amount of energy consumption and CO2 emissions among the top ten user countries to understand global effects of emissions. They also map the global impact of energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
Curated OER
Barriers to Change: The Myths about Vehicle Idling
Students have the opportunity to confront some of the most common misconceptions that surround vehicle idling, and employ the concept of social marketing to initiate change. The goal is to give students an appreciation of the impact of...
Curated OER
Health, Pollution, and Safety: Why Should We Care?
Students examine the impact of reducing the carbon dioxide emissions. They identify ways alternative fuels can lessen the effect of emissions on communities. Working in teams they conduct research from various community and Internet...
Curated OER
What's Driving Us?
Students determine what the people in their community are driving. Using traffic flow information, they develop recommendations on how to achieve sustainability. They calculate the carbon dioxide emission index for various sites and...
Curated OER
Chemical Consequences of Burning Fossil Fuels
Future scientists are introduced to the chemical consequences of burning fossil fuels, learning that fossil fuel combustion leads to the formation of oxides of three nonmetals: carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur, all of which end up in the...
Curated OER
Earn Points with Technology
Students explore renewable energy by analyzing a diagram. In this fossil fuel lesson plan, students view a chart explaining the different energy consumption from automobiles and how they impact our environment. Students analyze a point...
Curated OER
Environment: The Haves and the Have Nots
Pupils examine consumption habits in developed and developing countries and determine their effects on natural resources. In groups, they assess graphs on the Living Planet Report and observe the connection between consumption and...
Curated OER
What are the Challenges?
Students discuss energy. In this energy challenges lesson, students read about greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change. Comprehension questions from the reading are provided.
Curated OER
MOBILITY, Traveling Lightly: What’s My Footprint?
Students calculate their carbon footprint. In this environmental technology lesson, students listen to a lecture on climate change. Students brainstorm solutions to reduce environmental impact based on travel options. Students calculate...
Curated OER
Human Activity and Cllimate Change
Students perform activities to explore the affect of human activity on climates. They examine graphs of GHG emissions and their increases that are associated with human activity. Using a Global Climate Changing website, students explore...
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
No Fossils in This Fuel
Yeast and sugar go beyond the pantry and into a fuel experiment. Use these common baking ingredients to assist your class in creating ethanol, a natural fuel. Pupils observe the process and gather information to elaborate...