Fuels and the global environment

Activities

All the activities listed below with cpdn after the title are downloadable from the climateprediction.net site http://climateprediction.net/schools/resources.php . You can also find out how to join the experiment from this site.

Simple Climate model - cpdn
As an introduction to climate modelling the climateprediction.net resources include a very simple excel model of climate. Students can change a parameter and use the model to see how the average temperature changes. Go to http://climateprediction.net/schools/resource_SPU.php and select the pages for 'Simple Climate Model'

Earth's energy balance - cpdn
The climateprediction.net site includes a powerpoint set which gradually builds up a diagram of energy flows entering and leaving the Earth's atmosphere and includes questions to focus attention on the factors affecting these flows.
http://climateprediction.net/schools/docs/Energy_Budget.pdf and http://climateprediction.net/schools/docs/Energy_Budget_teachersnotes.pdf for teacher's notes.

Examining evidence for the effect of carbon dioxide on the temperature - cpdn
This activity on the climateprediction.net site presents four sets of evidence that indicate a correlation between rising carbon dioxide levels and the Earth's temperature. Students are asked to evaluate each set of evidence. http://climateprediction.net/schools/docs/correlation_causation.pdf and http://climateprediction.net/schools/docs/correlation_causation_teachersnotes.pdf for teacher's notes.

Climateprediction.net results so far - cpdn
This activity presents some of the results of the climateprediction.net modelling research to introduce students to a more complex model of the climate and to show how the model is tested in three stages before being used to actually predict future climate. Students answer questions to interpret some of the results. http://climateprediction.net/schools/docs/SPU_cpdn_results.pdf and
http://climateprediction.net/schools/docs/SPU_cpdn_results_teachersnotes.pdf (114 KB)
for teacher's notes.

Practical models of climate factors -cpdn
The climateprediction.net site for Twenty first century science includes practical experiments using water flow to simulate energy and links to an experiment showing the different heat absorption of air and carbon dioxide. http://climateprediction.net/schools/resource_C21.php

Feedback - cpdn
A work sheet Environment changes, climate change? allows students to consider how different factors have feedback effects on global climate. http://climateprediction.net/schools/resource_C21.php

1. Controversial Science? Investigating climate change online

In this exercise the teacher takes the role of advocate for the idea that there is nothing significant in global climate change that should be attributed to human activity.

Teacher Notes and Student Sheets (, 81 KB)
Powerpoint presentation (, 454 KB)

2. Global Warming

  (estimated time: 60 minutes)

This activity is most effective if it is online so that the links to the websites are live. It is a substantial activity examining data measurements and causal links in addition to covering the topic of global warming, but it could easily be broken up into sections if needed.

Teacher Notes and Student Sheets (, 20 KB)

3. Modelling Global Changes (Model 1 & 2)

These six activities allow students to learn more about the use of computer models and their limitations. Students can use simple models on Excel spreadsheets to look at linear and exponential growth. They then manipulate a simple predator-prey simulation to show the effects of positive and negative feedback. There are two extension activities which allow a more detailed understanding of the role of feedback in simple systems. These modelling concepts are related to the complex system of climate change.

Teacher notes and student sheets (, 141 KB)
Model 1 (, 21 KB)
Model 2 (, 22 KB)

4. Modelling Global Changes (Model 3-5)

 

Model 3 (, 33 KB)
Model 4 (, 120 KB)
Model 5 (, 22 KB)

5. Modelling Global Changes (Model 6)

 

Model 6 (, 45 KB)

6. Argument - debate on global climate change

  (estimated time: 20 minutes)

This activity allows students to practice a simple paired debate, paying attention to the quality of the argument they employ and developing effective criticism of an alternative argument.

Teachers notes and Students Sheets (, 106 KB)

7. Argument - Biofuels

  (estimated time: 30 - 40 minutes)

In this activity students get a chance to apply their knowledge of the structure of an argument to an article criticising the idea that biofuels will make a significant contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This analysis of a published argument should provide useful support in writing their own projects.

Teacher notes and student sheets (, 124 KB)