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Course: Middle school Earth and space science - NGSS?>?Unit 5
Lesson 6: Activity: how and why is Earth's climate changing?Activity: How and why is Earth's climate changing?
Make science come alive in your classroom with this free hands-on activity aligned to middle school NGSS standards.
Activity: How and why is Earth's climate changing?
Earth¡¯s climate is a result of complex interactions between sunlight and Earth¡¯s water, land, atmosphere, and life. For millions of years, Earth¡¯s climate has experienced periods of stability and periods of change.
How is the climate changing today? How can we tell if climate change today is similar to or different from climate changes long ago? In this activity, students analyze climate data from the last 400,000 years and develop a simple model of present-day climate change. Students then select a climate change solution and use their models to explain how the intervention would reduce the level of climate change.
Overview
This activity is designed to be completed in two 45-minute class periods, with additional time required for follow-up creative projects. The activity consists of the following parts:
- Setting the stage¡ªStudents review fundamentals about climate, fossil fuels, and carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. (15 minutes)
- Investigation (Part 1)¡ªStudents analyze data on carbon dioxide concentration, global temperature, and sea level over the past 400,000 years and identify patterns. (15 minutes)
- Investigation (Part 2)¡ªStudents use their knowledge of human activity to complete a simple cause-and-effect model of present-day climate change. (15 minutes)
- Let's get creative!¡ªStudents select a climate change solution and use their models to explain how the intervention would reduce the level of climate change. (45 minutes)
- Keep creating!¡ªStudents can choose from additional project ideas. Each project encourages students to combine scientific knowledge with creativity to produce something new.
Download the worksheets and get started today!
You can print out this activity or upload it to a digital classroom.
- Student activity guide (9 page worksheet)
- Teacher guide (step-by-step instructions)
NGSS performance expectations
MS-ESS3-5. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
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what is the air pressure on the mountain(5 votes)
The air pressure on a mountain varies depending on factors such as elevation, temperature, and weather conditions. Generally, as elevation increases, air pressure decreases due to the thinner atmosphere at higher altitudes. At sea level, the average atmospheric pressure is about 1013.25 millibars (mb) or 29.92 inches of mercury (inHg). On a typical mountain, such as a tall peak in a mountain range, the air pressure would be lower than at sea level due to the reduced atmospheric density at higher elevations. However, the specific air pressure on a mountain can vary widely depending on its height and location.(5 votes)
- How do we know for sure if earth has went thought climate change before?(3 votes)
- Scientists study various sources of evidence to understand past climate changes on Earth. These sources include ice cores, sediment layers, tree rings, fossil records, and geological formations. By analyzing these sources, researchers can reconstruct past climates, identify patterns of temperature change, and understand the factors driving these changes, such as variations in solar radiation, volcanic activity, and greenhouse gas concentrations.(5 votes)
Question out of the blue, what comes first the chicken or the egg?(5 votes)- The age-old question of whether the chicken or the egg came first is a philosophical conundrum that has puzzled thinkers for centuries. Here's what I think: The egg came out first, from other prehistoric birds, overall evolving, like the belief that humans evolved from apes, due to their similarities.(5 votes)
how do we prevent the earth icecaps from melting(1 vote)
Good Question.
The thing named "Climate Change" or more oftenly used "Global Warming" can play some factors in this.
There are many ways to stop "Global Warming", but I am only listing three right now. You can review the "Human Impacts on the Enviroment" video where it states that "instead of using a car or a vehicle that uses gas for energy, use a bike". It also states that we plant more trees. But more trees does not mean that we stop everything and continue polluting, it means that some people plant trees so trees so the trees can use "photosynthesis" (correct me if I am wrong) to stop "Global Warming". Another way is that we could prevent unused factories to stay in buissness. Finally, we can "flatten the curve". In the video: "Earth's changing climate", there is the graph of the "average" temperature of the world. But recently, the chart got inflated. We can inflate it, but we have to deflate it too.
These are some of the ways to stop climate change.(4 votes)
Where do we find this data from thousands of years ago.(2 votes)
what if the earth's temperature raises so much that everything dies(1 vote)- If Earth's temperature were to rise significantly to the point where it becomes uninhabitable for most forms of life, it would have catastrophic consequences for ecosystems, biodiversity, and human civilization. After researching, this scenario is known as, 'Runaway Global Warming' or 'Climate Catastrophe'. This could result in widespread extinction events, collapse of ecosystems, and disruption of vital ecological processes such as nutrient cycling and food chains. Additionally, extreme heat and climate-related disasters such as wildfires, droughts, storms, and sea-level rise could lead to mass displacement of populations, loss of agricultural productivity, and social and economic instability.(3 votes)
- what is human impacts(1 vote)
- Human impacts refer to the effects that human activities have on the environment, ecosystems, and other living organisms. These impacts can be both positive and negative, depending on the nature and scale of the activity. Positive human impacts may include activities such as conservation efforts, sustainable resource management, and environmental restoration, which aim to protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity. However, negative human impacts, such as deforestation, pollution, habitat destruction, overfishing, and climate change, can lead to environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and disruption of ecosystems.(3 votes)
if the icecaps melt will it thaw out new bacteria and animals(1 vote)- The melting of ice caps and glaciers can reveal previously frozen areas of land and water, potentially exposing ancient bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that haven't been seen for thousands or even millions of years. These organisms are known as "cryoconites." They have adapted to extreme cold and low nutrient environments and may become active once thawed. Additionally, the melting of ice can create new habitats and ecological niches, allowing for the colonization of plants, animals, and microorganisms. While some of these newly exposed areas may support life, others may be inhospitable due to factors such as soil composition, temperature, and nutrient availability. The potential impact of thawing ice caps on ecosystems and biodiversity is an area of active research and remains a topic of concern in the context of climate change.(3 votes)
- how would we prevent it from happening(1 vote)
- I don't have any questions(1 vote)