Learning Objective: Global Climate Change
NGSS Standard: (MSESS3.D) 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.
Objective:
Students will be able to:
1. Explain Earth’s natural greenhouse effect.
2. Identify natural and humancreated sources of greenhouse gases.
3. Understand that the Earth’s systems keep its temperature balanced as long as those systems are
also balanced.
4. Explain why climate change is a global occurrence, not a local one.
Time Required: 75 minutes
Materials Needed:
● Teacher computer with internet access
● Projector/Smartboard
● 1 computer/laptop/iPad per student with internet access
● Global Climate Change and the Greenhouse Effect Handout (attached)
Teacher Preparation:
● Create Playlist 1, a 40 minute p laylist in L
egends of Learning with the following games found in the
Global Climate Change objective (in order):
○ Warm Planet Adventure
○ Oscar’s World: Climate Change
● Create Playlist 2, a 10 minute playlist in Legends of Learning with 5 a ssessment questions from the
Global Climate Change learning objective
Engage (5 minutes):
1. On the projector/Smartboard show images from NASA’s change w ebsite . When you show these
images be sure to scroll back and forth slowly to indicate the change that took place. Plus, point out
specifically what the image is showing.
2. Ask students:
a. What are some examples of the effects of global climate change?
i. Mudslides, melting glaciers, flooding, drought, deforestation, and changes in plant
production.
b. Is global climate change always considered global warming?
i. No, that changes of the warming of the planet cause climates to changes in a variety
of different ways.
c. Why are the images showing large portions of land instead of smaller local events?
i. Climate change is an a very large scale both in terms of time and the land area.
3. Explain to the students that today they will be learning about what causes global climate change
throughout the world and what we can do stop it.
1
Explore (40 minutes):
1. Have your students s ign in to Legends of Learning and enter your teacher code .
2. Launch Playlist 1 to your students.
3. As students complete W arm Planet Adventure , students should fill out the Global Climate Change
and the Greenhouse Effect Handout.
4. Assist students as needed during game play, pause playlist if you need to address content or
questions to entire class.
5. If students finish the first game and worksheet early they can continue on in the playlist and try the
game O scar’s World: Climate Change . This game will help test their knowledge.
Explain (10 minutes):
1. Review the answers to the handout Global Climate Change and the Greenhouse Effect Handout by
recreating the diagram on the whiteboard.
2. As you review the chart and answers, clarify any misconceptions that students may have.
Elaborate (10 minutes):
1. Global climate change is often discussed in terms of how it will affect humans. However, many other
organisms will be affected as well. Let's take a look at how other species will be affected by climate
change.
2. Show the following video to the class: h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCKRjP_DMII
3. Ask:
a. How many species have been identified as evolving in response to climate change?
i. 20
b. How are humans helping wildlife adapt to climate change?
i. Refugees, climate change checkups, moving species,
c. Some organisms may not be able to evolve fast enough to climate change to survive. How
might this affect this biodiversity on Earth and why is this so important to consider?
i. Total biodiversity on Earth will decrease. Lower biodiversity creates a negative
feedback loop on the total biodiversity of an ecosystem
Evaluate (10 minutes):
1. Launch Playlist 2 to your students. When they finish the assessment questions, any time left is
freeplay.
2. Analyze student results to determine what concepts need to be a focus for reteaching.
2
Global Climate Change and the Greenhouse Effect Name / Pd: ___________________________________
Directions: After playing the first game in Legends of Learning called W
arm Planet Adventure , use the diagram
below to answer the question.
Image s ource .
1. The “Natural” diagram is showing how Earth’s greenhouse effect helps keep the planet at a warm
enough temperature for life to occur. Does all of the energy become trapped the by greenhouse effect?
2. How are the greenhouse gasses different on the “Human Enhanced” system when compared to the
“Natural” system?
3. The “Human Enhanced” system allows ( m
ore / less ) heat to escape the atmosphere.
3
4. Why does the “Human Enhanced” system have a greater temperature than the “Natural” system?
5. What is the difference between weather and climate?
6. Does global climate change mean global warming?
7. Are all large scale changes in the climate caused by humans? Give two examples.
8. What are some methods of reducing global climate change?
4
