As a Middle School or High School Environmental Sciences teacher, you can use this lesson plan to teach about the Greenhouse Effect of the Earth’s atmosphere. This lesson plan will explain what are Greenhouse Gases (GHGs), what is the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of atmospheric Greenhouse Gases, and how increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can cause global warming of the planet.
The Earth’s atmosphere is made up of several gases. It allows incoming solar radiation to enter and warm the Earth’s surface which then radiates energy back into space. Some gases in the atmosphere absorb the outgoing terrestrial radiation and re-radiate it back to the Earth, thereby increasing Earth’s surface temperature. These gases are called Greenhouse Gases and this warming is known as the Greenhouse Effect. Important greenhouse gases in the atmosphere include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), water vapor (H2O), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Since the beginning of the industrial age, increased greenhouse gas emissions have potentially led to global warming of the planet. This lesson plan includes reading and activity-based resources to teach your students about the Greenhouse Effect, Global Warming and the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of atmospheric Greenhouse Gases.
Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Environmental Sciences or Chemistry.
As a Middle School or High School Environmental Sciences teacher, you can use this lesson plan to teach about the Greenhouse Effect of the Earth’s atmosphere. This lesson plan will explain what are Greenhouse Gases (GHGs), what is the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of atmospheric Greenhouse Gases, and how increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can cause global warming of the planet.
The Earth’s atmosphere is made up of several gases. It allows incoming solar radiation to enter and warm the Earth’s surface which then radiates energy back into space. Some gases in the atmosphere absorb the outgoing terrestrial radiation and re-radiate it back to the Earth, thereby increasing Earth’s surface temperature. These gases are called Greenhouse Gases and this warming is known as the Greenhouse Effect. Important greenhouse gases in the atmosphere include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), water vapor (H2O), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Since the beginning of the industrial age, increased greenhouse gas emissions have potentially led to global warming of the planet. This lesson plan includes reading and activity-based resources to teach your students about the Greenhouse Effect, Global Warming and the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of atmospheric Greenhouse Gases.
Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Environmental Sciences or Chemistry.
The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:
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.
Reading (30 min)
Use the section, ‘A. Understanding global warming’, pages 7-9 of the document, ‘IPCC Special Report “Global Warming of 1.50C”- Summary for Teachers’ by the Office for Climate Education (OCE), France, to introduce your students to the topic of greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere. Discuss how the industrial revolution has resulted in an increase in the concentration of some GHGs in the atmosphere. Use the in-section questions and tasks to discuss the global warming potential of various GHGs. Further, use the document to emphasize how an increase in the atmospheric concentrations of such gases has potentially caused global warming of the planet. This document is available in English, French, German, and Spanish.
Simulation (30 min)
Use the interactive PhET simulation, ‘The Greenhouse Effect’ by University of Colorado, Boulder, to enable your students to visualize the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere. Use the simulation to show students how certain gases in the atmosphere absorb outgoing terrestrial radiation and re-radiate the energy back to Earth’s surface. Emphasize that this is the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere and increased 2 Step-by-step User Guide concentration of these gases causes warming of the Earth’s surface. Instruct your students to explore different scenarios such as ‘Ice Age’, ‘1750’ (pre-Industrial Age) and ‘Today’ to visualize the effect of corresponding concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases on observed temperatures. Direct your students to adjust the concentration of different greenhouse gases and to note the corresponding surface temperatures of the planet. You may also use the ‘Photon Absorption’ tab in the simulation to help your students visualize the interaction of infrared radiation with different greenhouse gas molecules. This resource is available in several languages including English, French, German, and Spanish.
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Reading; ‘IPCC Special Report “Global Warming of 1.50C”- Summary for Teachers’ | Published by the Office for Climate Education (OCE), France. |
| 2 | Simulation; ‘The Greenhouse Effect’ | Developed by University of Colorado Boulder, USA |
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.
1. Topic introduction and discussion
Reading (30 min)
Use the section, ‘A. Understanding global warming’, pages 7-9 of the document, ‘IPCC Special Report “Global Warming of 1.50C”- Summary for Teachers’ by the Office for Climate Education (OCE), France, to introduce your students to the topic of greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere. Discuss how the industrial revolution has resulted in an increase in the concentration of some GHGs in the atmosphere. Use the in-section questions and tasks to discuss the global warming potential of various GHGs. Further, use the document to emphasize how an increase in the atmospheric concentrations of such gases has potentially caused global warming of the planet. This document is available in English, French, German, and Spanish.
This can be accessed here.
2. Extend student understanding of the topic using an interactive simulation
Simulation (30 min)
Use the interactive PhET simulation, ‘The Greenhouse Effect’ by University of Colorado, Boulder, to enable your students to visualize the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere. Use the simulation to show students how certain gases in the atmosphere absorb outgoing terrestrial radiation and re-radiate the energy back to Earth’s surface. Emphasize that this is the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere and increased 2 Step-by-step User Guide concentration of these gases causes warming of the Earth’s surface. Instruct your students to explore different scenarios such as ‘Ice Age’, ‘1750’ (pre-Industrial Age) and ‘Today’ to visualize the effect of corresponding concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases on observed temperatures. Direct your students to adjust the concentration of different greenhouse gases and to note the corresponding surface temperatures of the planet. You may also use the ‘Photon Absorption’ tab in the simulation to help your students visualize the interaction of infrared radiation with different greenhouse gas molecules. This resource is available in several languages including English, French, German, and Spanish.
This can be accessed here.
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
Credits and copyrights
| 1 | Reading; ‘IPCC Special Report “Global Warming of 1.50C”- Summary for Teachers’ | Published by the Office for Climate Education (OCE), France. |
| 2 | Simulation; ‘The Greenhouse Effect’ | Developed by University of Colorado Boulder, USA. |
