As a high school or undergraduate teacher of Chemistry or Earth Sciences, you can use this set of computer-based tools to help you in teaching atomic number, mass number, isotopes and isotopic ratios, the use of isotopic ratios to calculate temperature, and the use of isotopic composition to recreate past temperatures and climate.
This lesson plan allows students to understand isotopes, isotopic ratios, the relationship between isotopic compositions and temperature, and how isotopic compositions are used to recreate past temperature and climate.
Thus, the use of this toolkit allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Chemistry or Earth Sciences.
The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:
| Grade Level | High School, Undergraduate |
| Discipline | Chemistry, Earth Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Atomic Number, Atomic Mass, Environmental Chemistry, Isotopes, Earth’s Climate, Climate History, Recent Climate Change, Milankovitch Cycles, Cryosphere, Mass Number, Isotopic Ratios |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Cryosphere, Climate Variability Record |
| Location | Global |
| Language(s) | English (Simulation tool available in multiple languages) |
| Access | Online / offline |
| Approximate Time Required | 130-150 min |
| Share |
|
| Resource Download |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
Micro-lecture (video) (~10 min)
Note: For a more detailed exploration of isotopes, atomic mass,and methods to calculate the average atomic mass, you may use the PhET simulation tool and associated activity listed in the Additional Resources section of this lesson plan. This activity will enable your students to calculate the average atomic mass of sample mixtures of isotopes by using various methods.
Reading (20-30 min)
Next, read and discuss “Isotope Analysis” from Harvard University to introduce the occurrence and distribution of oxygen isotopes. Further, the reading will help your students understand isotopic ratios, the relationship between isotopic compositions and temperature, and how scientists can use isotopic compositions to recreate past temperature and climate.
Classroom/Laboratory Activity (~90 min)
Now, explore the relationship between isotopic compositions and climate through a hands-on classroom/laboratory activity, “From Isotopes to Temperature”, created by Spruce Schoenemann, UW
Earth and Space Sciences:
In this activity, your students will analyze isotopic compositions of ice core data from Antarctica to infer past temperatures and climate. Students will plot graphs in MS Excel to perform data analysis and interpretation.
Use the tools and the concepts learned so far to discuss and determine answers to the following questions :
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Simulation and associated classroom activity | Interactive simulation, “Isotopes and Atomic Mass” from PhET Simulations.
This can be accessed here. |
| 2 | Reading | A reading that highlights the economic importance of the Mulberry plant
in various fields for sustainable development.This can be accessed here.
An associated classroom activity, “Isotopes and Atomic Mass – Guided Inquiry Activity”, developed by Timothy Herzog This can be accessed here. . |
| 1 | Micro-lecture, “Atomic number, mass number, and isotopes” | Khan Academy: Introduction to the Atom, “Atomic number, mass number, and isotopes” |
| 2 | Reading, “Isotope Analysis” | Harvard University |
| 3 | Classroom/Laboratory Activity, “From Isotopes to Temperature” | University of Washington Program on Climate Change (Spruce Schoenemann, UW Earth and Space Sciences) |
| 4 | Additional Resources | PhET Simulations,
Timothy Herzog, using “Isotopes and Atomic Mass” Simulation from PhET
Scientific American |
| Grade Level | High School, Undergraduate |
| Discipline | Chemistry, Earth Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Atomic Number, Mass Number, Isotopes and Isotopic Ratios, How isotopic ratios are used to calculate temperature, How isotopic composition is used to recreate past temperatures and climate |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Cryosphere, Climate Variability Record |
| Location | Global |
| Language(s) | English (Simulation tool available in multiple languages) |
| Access | Online / offline |
| Approximate Time Required | 130-150 min |
| Share |
|
| Resource Download |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
Micro-lecture (video) (~10 min)
Note: For a more detailed exploration of isotopes, atomic mass,and methods to calculate the average atomic mass, you may use the PhET simulation tool and associated activity listed in the Additional Resources section of this lesson plan. This activity will enable your students to calculate the average atomic mass of sample mixtures of isotopes by using various methods.
Reading (20-30 min)
Next, read and discuss “Isotope Analysis” from Harvard University to introduce the occurrence and distribution of oxygen isotopes. Further, the reading will help your students understand isotopic ratios, the relationship between isotopic compositions and temperature, and how scientists can use isotopic compositions to recreate past temperature and climate.
Classroom/Laboratory Activity (~90 min)
Now, explore the relationship between isotopic compositions and climate through a hands-on classroom/laboratory activity, “From Isotopes to Temperature”, created by Spruce Schoenemann, UW Earth and Space Sciences:
In this activity, your students will analyze isotopic compositions of ice core data from Antarctica to infer past temperatures and climate. Students will plot graphs in MS Excel to perform data analysis and interpretation.
Use the tools and the concepts learned so far to discuss and determine answers to the following questions :
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Simulation and associated classroom activity | Interactive simulation, “Isotopes and Atomic Mass” from PhET Simulations. This can be accessed here. |
| 2 | Reading | A reading that highlights the economic importance of the Mulberry plant in various fields for sustainable development. This can be accessed here AND This can be accessed here . |
| 3 | Classroom/Laboratory Activity | Columbia University: The Climate System course (taught by Peter Schlosser, Stephanie Pfirman, Mingfang Ting, Jason Smerdon). This can be accessed here. |
| 1 | Micro-lecture, “Atomic number, mass number, and isotopes” | Khan Academy: Introduction to the Atom, “Atomic number, mass number, and isotopes” |
| 2 | Reading, “Isotope Analysis” | Harvard University |
| 3 | Classroom/Laboratory Activity, “From Isotopes to Temperature” | University of Washington Program on Climate Change (Spruce Schoenemann, UW Earth and Space Sciences) |
| 4 | Additional Resources | Timothy Herzog, using “Isotopes and Atomic Mass” Simulation from PhET, Columbia University, taught by Peter Schlosser, Stephanie Pfirman, Mingfang Ting, Jason Smerdon |
