Introduction
Welcome Earth Advocates!
You are about to undertake an important mission- the future fate of our Earth literally depends on it! You are going to watch a few videos, conduct a simulation, and complete some fun interactive games to learn about the causes and effects of affects of Global warming and climate change on Earth's environment and ecosystems.
However, don't lose hope! These games will also present ideas and solutions for how we can change course and save our planet before it is too late.
Soak in all the information you can, and begin brainstorming small changes you can make on your own, and as a school community, to be part of the solution.
Be the change!
Task
Task 1:
Watch the following videos to learn an overview of the greenhouse effect and some of the causes and negative effects of climate change on Earth's environment and ecosystems. Fill out the attached worksheet as you watch the videos.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fmSOlKLKxiTD3aPh1o0TxfYAhz_t6l6XrqzAPxjaU6k/edit
(The National Geographic Documentary "Before The Flood" is fairly long. I recommend breaking it up in parts and watching it over the course of a few days.)
Task 2:
Now I would like you to go on the PHET Greenhouse Effect Simulation- https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/greenhouse/latest/greenhouse.html
Follow the directions on the attached worksheet to conduct the simulation. Fill in the correspond data and answer the questions as you go- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xeepLMrd007k7lsEas8-fG2Ki5UUtQBkOWnChOWdOEo/edit
Task 3:
Click on the link below to go to the Global Climate Change playlist on the Legends of Learning website. Log-in with your school Google account. There are 9 interactive games on the playlist. Your task is to complete 4 of the interactive games. You may choose any 4 that interest you.
https://app.legendsoflearning.com/teachers/games/learning-objective/377
Evaluation
Congratulations!
You’ve made it to the end. For your final assignment you will be presenting to the class what you've learned along with two ways you can personally reduce your own carbon footprint and two suggestions for how we can collectively reduce our carbon footprint at school. Be creative and show all that you have learned. You may work individually on this presentation or in groups of up to 4 people.
Your presentation options are as follows:
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Create and perform a skit
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Write and perform a song/poem
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Create a powerpoint
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Draw a posterboard
Credits
The PHET worksheet in task 2 was modified from the Stanford SCALE curriculum (We piloted it a few years ago. I couldn't find any links online to the exact worksheet).
Teacher Page
This webquest was designed to teach my students about the causes and effects of climate change. This is based upon the following middle school NGSS standards about earth and human activity: MS-ESS3-5 Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century. This performance expectation is based upon the DCI ESS3.D. Global Climate Change: Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming). Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities, and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and activities.
Additionally, by having students also focus on and brainstorm potential changes they can make individually and as a school to be part of the solution to prevent/reverse some of the negative impacts of climate change, the following NGSS standards are also addressed: MS-ETS1-1 Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions; MS-ETS1-2 Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem; MS-LS2-4 Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations; MS-LS2-5 Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.