As a high school Chemistry teacher, this set of computer-based tools will help you to introduce the topics of hydrocarbons in fossil fuels, carbon dioxide release by fossil fuel combustion and the effect of high atmospheric carbon dioxide on climate change.
This lesson plan helps students to learn about hydrocarbons, different types of hydrocarbons, and how the products of their combustion reactions can potentially lead to climate change. Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Chemistry.
The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:
Teacher-submitted lesson plan, contributed by Dr. Sharda Pasricha, Associate Professor, Sri Venkateswara College (Delhi University)
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| Grade Level | High School |
| Discipline | Chemistry, Environmental Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Environmental Chemistry, Carbon Chemistry, Greenhouse Gases, Fossil Fuels, Hydrocarbon, Carbon Emissions, Pollution, Greenhouse Effect, Atmosphere, Combustion Reactions, Carbon Dioxide and Global Warming |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Atmosphere, Climate and the Anthroposphere, Greenhouse Effect |
| Location | Global |
| Language(s) | English |
| Access | Online / Offline |
| Approximate Time Required | 45 – 60 mins |
| 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.
Video Micro-lecture (4 minutes)
Introduce the topic of fossil fuels to your students by using the video micro-lecture “What’s the deal With Fossil Fuels?” developed by California Academy of Sciences and available at Click Here. You may use this teaching tool to discuss common fossil fuels and their formation, and renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. Emphasize how carbon dioxide released from fossil fuel combustion may lead to global warming.
Reading (15 mins)
Now explore the topic in greater detail through this reading titled “Hydrocarbon Combustion” from University of Calgary, available at Click HERE Use this teaching tool to demonstrate the products of the combustion of different hydrocarbons and to show the potential costs and benefits of using different fossil fuels. You may demonstrate this by having your students note how much CO2 per molecule is released due to the combustion of different fossil fuels.
Classroom/Laboratory Activity (40 minutes)
Now help your students investigate the thermal properties of CO2, its role as a greenhouse gas, and how increased CO2 concentrations due to combustion of different hydrocarbons in fossil fuels may contribute to global warming. Use the classroom/laboratory activity titled “The carbon dioxide greenhouse – is it effective?” developed by the Royal Society of Chemistry and available at Click Here, and proceed with the lab activity as instructed. While conducting the classroom/laboratory activity, have your students observe the effect of applying heat and light energy on carbon dioxide and air. Ask your students if their observations of the thermal properties of CO2 and air allow them to better understand the relationship between increased atmospheric CO2 due to combustion of fossil fuels and an increase in Earth’s surface temperature since the industrial revolution. You may further discuss impacts of climate change on local and global scales and on different sectors.
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Reading, “Greenhouse Gases”, from the American Chemical Society: |
This can be accessed here. |
| 2 | Reading, “Hydrocarbons”, from BC campus Open Education: |
This can be accessed here |
| 3 | Reading, “Energy From Fossil Fuels”, from Western Oregon University, USA: |
This can be accessed here. |
| 4 | Simulation , “Climate Bathtub Simulation” | by Dr. Sterman from System Dynamics Group at MIT , USA, to understand what will happen if atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are allowed to increase or decrease beyond current levels:
This can be accessed here. |
| 1 | Video, “What’s the Deal with Fossil Fuels?”: | California Academy of Sciences, USA |
| 2 | Reading, “Hydrocarbon Combustion”: | Energy Education, University of Calgary, Canada |
| 3 | Lab Activity, “The carbon dioxide greenhouse – is it effective?”: | Royal Society of Chemistry, London |
| 4 | Additional Resources |
| Grade Level | High School |
| Discipline | Chemistry, Environmental Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Fossil Fuels, Hydrocarbons, Combustion Reactions, Carbon dioxide and Global Warming |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Atmosphere; Climate and the Anthroposphere; Energy sources and Climate Change |
| Location | Global |
| Language(s) | English |
| Access | Online / Offline |
| Approximate Time Required | 45 – 60 mins |
| 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.
Video Micro-lecture (4 minutes)
Introduce the topic of fossil fuels to your students by using the video micro-lecture “What’s the deal With Fossil Fuels?” developed by California Academy of Sciences and available at Click Here. You may use this teaching tool to discuss common fossil fuels and their formation, and renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. Emphasize how carbon dioxide released from fossil fuel combustion may lead to global warming.
Reading (15 mins)
Now explore the topic in greater detail through this reading titled “Hydrocarbon Combustion” from University of Calgary, available at Click HERE Use this teaching tool to demonstrate the products of the combustion of different hydrocarbons and to show the potential costs and benefits of using different fossil fuels. You may demonstrate this by having your students note how much CO2 per molecule is released due to the combustion of different fossil fuels.
Classroom/Laboratory Activity (40 minutes)
Now help your students investigate the thermal properties of CO2, its role as a greenhouse gas, and how increased CO2 concentrations due to combustion of different hydrocarbons in fossil fuels may contribute to global warming. Use the classroom/laboratory activity titled “The carbon dioxide greenhouse – is it effective?” developed by the Royal Society of Chemistry and available at Click Here, and proceed with the lab activity as instructed. While conducting the classroom/laboratory activity, have your students observe the effect of applying heat and light energy on carbon dioxide and air. Ask your students if their observations of the thermal properties of CO2 and air allow them to better understand the relationship between increased atmospheric CO2 due to combustion of fossil fuels and an increase in Earth’s surface temperature since the industrial revolution. You may further discuss impacts of climate change on local and global scales and on different sectors.
Suggested questions/assignments for learning evaluation
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 | Reading, “Greenhouse Gases”, from the American Chemical Society: | This can be accessed here. |
| 2 | Reading, “Hydrocarbons”, from BC campus Open Education: | This can be accessed here |
| 3 | Reading, “Energy From Fossil Fuels”, from Western Oregon University, USA: | This can be accessed here. |
| 4 | Simulation , “Climate Bathtub Simulation” | by Dr. Sterman from System Dynamics Group at MIT , USA, to understand what will happen if atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are allowed to increase or decrease beyond current levels: This can be accessed here. |
| 1 | Video, “What’s the Deal with Fossil Fuels?”: | California Academy of Sciences, USA |
| 2 | Reading, “Hydrocarbon Combustion”: | Energy Education, University of Calgary, Canada |
| 3 | Lab Activity, “The carbon dioxide greenhouse – is it effective?”: | Royal Society of Chemistry, London |
| 4 | Additional Resources |
