Wild BC
Carbon Sinks and Sources
Earth or environmental science pupils are assigned to be carbon sources or sinks. They ask yes-or-no questions to try to figure out which one they are. Then they discuss ways people can have positive effects on the changing climate by...
Pingry School
Flame Tests
Light a fire in your pupils! Scholars conduct a flame test and observe the emission spectra of several different salts in an enlightening hands-on investigation. They use their observations to make comparisons and conclusions about the...
Carnegie Mellon University
Consumer Preferences in Lighting
What is a watt? This tongue-twisting, mind-bending question and others are answered through this instructional activity on the different lighting options available. With the support of a PowerPoint, teach your physical science class...
American Museum of Natural History
Rising CO2! What Can We Do?
It is colorless and scentless, but it makes a large impact on the environment. Learners explore carbon dioxide emissions and what they mean for the environment using an interactive graph. They review changes over time and how they impact...
Curated OER
Smog City - Part I
Students apply an interactive smog visualization application, Smog City to see how ozone levels are related to population levels and emissions. They study associated vocabulary and complete a worksheet.
Curated OER
What Can I Do About Global Environmental Change?
Students complete a unit to evaluate their impact on the environment and greenhouse gas emissions. They conduct Internet research, develop a list of their electrical and energy use, calculate their share of greenhouse gases, and identify...
Curated OER
A GHG Challenge for Northerners
Learners analyze, prioritize, and present their interpretations of a GHG Challenge. After reviewing background materials on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and Suzuki's Nature Challenge, students work in small groups to create a...
Curated OER
CO2: How Much Do You Spew?
Students analyze the energy consumption of a household to see the amount of carbon dioxide they add to the atmosphere each year. In this energy consumption instructional activity students calculate carbon emissions and discuss sources...
Curated OER
Using Mass Balance to Understand Atmospheric CFCs
Students use an interactive online mass balance model to observe levels of chlorofluorocarbons over the past few years. Students evaluate the influence protocol emissions will have on the future levels of CFCs.
Curated OER
Avoiding Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Burning Fossil Fuels
Students calculate stoichiometrically the amount of carbon dioxide that would be emitted from burning a mole of varios alkanes that comprise fossile fuels. If the energy released from burning a mole of these alkanes is known, then the...
Redefining Progress
Have and Have-Not
Is there a correlation between a country's wealth and the extent of its ecological footprint? What exactly constitutes an ecological footprint, and how does one country stack up against the rest? This is a unique lesson to incorporate...
National Wildlife Federation
Ghost Town
Around 93 percent of the reefs on Australia's Great Barrier Reef have been bleached, and almost one quarter of them are now dead. Scholars research the sea temperatures, especially around the areas with coral reefs, to make connections...
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 on the...
Curated OER
Permit Trading
Emerging environmentalists work in groups and pretend that each is a power company generating electricity for a community. They consider the costs of building a renewable electricity generator that will increasingly replace generating...
Curated OER
Inspiring Change At Home and At School
Students explore energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. They conduct a home energy audit, a transportation campaign, and an investigation in the school. Students develop a plan to conserve energy and reduce emissions.
Curated OER
Take the One-Tonne Challenge!
Students investigate the One-Tonne challenge, and work out how they could reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by one tonne, through individual actions and by influencing other people.
WK Kellogg Biological Station
N2O: It’s No Laughing Matter!
While the layout of the lesson plan is not very detailed and the link to the PowerPoint is no longer valid, there are some great exercises to examine the role of nitrous oxide in the environment. For middle level learners, the resource...
Curated OER
Plugged in to CO2
Students use a meter to measure the energy used and carbon produced by electronics and appliances. For this environmental science and technology lesson, students use a Kill-A-Watt meter to determine the electricity used by everyday...
Curated OER
Smog City - Part II
Students create an experiment about ozone levels using a Smog City Simulation on the Internet. They complete a worksheet and study associated vocabulary.
Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation
Greenhouse Gas Game
You will need to gather a number of tokens, bags, and other various game components in order to incorporate this activity into your curriculum. Different tokens represent carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Printable 8.5"x11"...
National Academy of Sciences
Lights at Night Webquest
Help learners find ways to become more efficient energy consumers. To start, individuals research how different countries address energy efficiency and then analyze their own carbon footprint. They use their research to identify ways to...
National Park Service
Reduce Our Carbon Footprint, Let’s Compost!
Roll up your sleeves and get a little dirty with this elementary and middle school compost lesson. All you need is a large plastic container, a couple old newspapers, some organic waste, and a few hundred worms and you're ready to start...
Curated OER
Air: Fuel For Thought
Students consider the impact of vehicle use in their family and brainstorm viable alternatives to this use. They calculate the total emissions for their family cars during the week, then compare those totals with Hybrid car totals.
Curated OER
Carbon Monoxide and Population Density
Tenth graders investigate the carbon monoxide level at a fixed latitude to determine if there is a relationship to population density. They download data sets and generate a graph, and find locations using the Earth's coordinate system....