Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
CO2 and Temperature InteractiveCO2 and Temperature Interactive
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
7th - 12th
Subjects
Science
3 more...
Resource Type
Interactives
Audiences
For Teacher Use
1 more...
Duration
15 mins
Instructional Strategy
Direct Instruction
Technology
Internet Access
Usage Permissions
Fine Print
Interactive

CO2 and Temperature

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Scientists can model global surface temperature with and without considering human emissions, but does do these factors really make a difference? Two interactive graphs demonstrate some factors that affect climate change. The first graph shows atmospheric CO2 concentration. The second graph displays observed global average surface temperate along with two different prediction models, one with human emissions considered and one without.

9 Views 6 Downloads
CCSS: Adaptable

Concepts

carbon dioxide, temperature, global warming, climate change, carbon emissions, emissions

Additional Tags

science

Instructional Ideas

  • Extend the graphs from 2010 to the present day
  • Discuss how the observed temperature measurements were taken and what they are related to

Classroom Considerations

  • Heavily relies on understanding and interpreting graphs

Pros

  • Both graphs cover more than a century worth of data
  • Moving the slider updates both graphs simultaniously for ease of comparison

Cons

  • None

Common Core

RST.6-8.4 RST.6-8.7 RST.9-10.4 RST.9-10.7 RST.11-12.4 RST.11-12.7

See similar resources:

Lesson Plan

Can Carbon Dioxide Act Like a Greenhouse Gas?

Polar Trec
Ninety-seven percent of scientists who study climate agree that human activity is warming the planet. Learners explore carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, a gas causing this warming, through a hands-on experiment. Once complete, they...
6th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Are Global CO2 Levels Changing?

Chicago Botanic Garden
According to the Mauna Loa observatory, carbon dioxide levels increased by 3 ppm in our atmosphere between 2015–2016. Individuals analyze carbon dioxide data from around the world and then share this with a home group in lesson...
10th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

CO2: How Much Do You Spew?

Center Science Education
Split your earth science or environmental studies class into groups and give each a scenario card. Scenario cards describe the lifestyles of 10 different fictitious families, focusing on their energy usage. Carbon dioxide emissions are...
6th - 12th Science
Lesson Plan

Plugged In To CO2

Center Science Education
Watt is going on here? Middle schoolers are learning about energy use and carbon dioxide emissions! In the first part of this lesson, learners measure how much energy different appliances consume and calculate the amount per day. In...
6th - 10th Science
Interactive

Rising CO2! What Can We Do?

American Museum of Natural History
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...
6th - 12th Science
Lesson Plan

Carbon Dioxide - Sources and Sinks

Curated OER
Where does all of the carbon dioxide come from that is supposedly leading to climate change? Earth science pupils test animal, plant, and fossil fuels as sources in this investigation. Using an indicator, BTB, they are able to detect the...
7th - 12th Science
Lesson Plan

Capturing Carbon Dioxide

Science Friday
Why don't we just capture carbon dioxide in the air and store it somewhere else? A hands-on lesson allows scholars to explore a complex concept. First, they will create a carbonated beverage, and then they will determine...
6th - 8th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Interactive

Sunlight, Infrared, CO2, and the Ground

Concord Consortium
How bright are your classes? An interactive lesson has scholars explore how light interacts with carbon dioxide in the air and the surface of the earth. They watch a temperature scale as light interacts with the environment.
9th - 12th Science
Instructional Video

Covalent Bonding of Carbon Dioxide

Fuse School
How does a polar molecule, H2O, compare with a nonpolar molecule, CO2? Young chemists learn the similarities and differences between their covalent bonds and properties. They practice applying prior knowledge in a new way to reinforce...
3 mins 9th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Video

Atmospheric CO2 and Earth’s Temperature

PBS
Is atmospheric carbon dioxide really to blame for global warming? Young environmentalists analyze historical carbon dioxide and temperature data during a multimedia activity from PBS's Weather and Climate series. High schoolers read...
4 mins 9th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use