Explain how the combination of fossil fuels and sunlight affect the climate of Phoenix, AZ in an exit-ticket paragraph of at least four sentences.
Lesson Outline:
Since Day 3 focused primarily on how fossil fuels affect the environment, Day 4 will focus primarily on how fossil fuels affect Earth's climate, as well as the benefit of renewable energy.
The teacher will begin by rehashing Day 3's information about how fossil fuels affected the planet, both positively and negatively. What were some of the benefits of using fossil fuels? What are some of the disadvantages of using fossil fuels? How does plastic impact our planet?
The teacher will then shift the focus to climate change. Does anyone know what fossil fuels due to our weather/climate? Has anyone heard of global warming? What do you know about it? Can you describe it to the whole class? This video will be shown as an introduction to climate change and fossil fuels.
The teacher will then begin a presentation on the impacts that have fossil fuels have on Earth's climate. Specific attention in the presentation will be given to the carbon cycle, as well as how a combination of carbon dioxide emissions (which mainly come from the usage of fossil fuels) and strong/frequent sunlight quickens the pace of climate change, particularly global warming. Students will need to know that this can often occur through a process known as the 'greenhouse effect'. After the presentation, students will watch this video to take an in-depth look at how fossil fuels impact the carbon cycle and Earth's climate.
The main focus will be on how carbon dioxide emissions contribute to the rising average temperature of our planet, and as long as we rely heavily on fossil fuels, the Earth may continue to get warmer, eventually causing harmful problems. Students will learn how the greenhouse effect has already consumed one planet, Venus, in this video.
As an exit ticket, students will be asked to create a diagram of how the greenhouse effect works in their science notebooks. Those who use their time appropriately will have time to use classroom tablets/computers to go to this site (which has a simulation of the greenhouse effect and allows students to alter settings) and explore how the greenhouse effect works.