Tackling the Global Warming Challenge 2010 Workshop at the 2010 NSTA National Conference, Philadelphia, PA Lisa Gardiner Randy Russell Office of Education & Outreach University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Boulder, CO

Presentation Overview Intro: Why is global warming happening? What can we do? Climate and Global Change educational resources from Windows to the Universe Activities: –Energy Choices and Climate Change, a new online module –Plugged in to CO2 –CO2: How Much Do You Spew? –Watch Where You Step Workshop Overview

Data compiled by Hadley Centre of the UK Meteorological Office Earth is warming…

What controls the climate? Volcanic eruptions Reflective snow & ice The Sun & Earths orbit And the amount of greenhouse gases… Clouds

Greenhouse gases trap heat, causing warming. Heat absorbed by CO2 radiated to space (A). Heat can make its way to space directly (B). Heat absorbed by CO2 radiated towards Earth (C).

Sources of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in (IPCC, 2007) Where do the extra greenhouse gases come from?

We can try to adapt to changing climate –Adaptation: protecting people/places by making them less vulnerable to climate impacts We can try to slow or stop warming –Mitigation: slowing global warming by lowering levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere What can we do? Overall goal –keep Earth a livable place Sustainability: meeting our present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs

Three levels of content in two languages

Energy Choices and Climate Change Energy Choices and Climate Change, an online module, provides a new way to look at how the choices we make about energy affect the amount of greenhouse gases we send into the atmosphere. Users make decisions about the types and amount of energy used and see what effect those decisions have on the amount of carbon dioxide emitted to the atmosphere. The goal is to reduce CO2 emissions from fossil fuels while keeping costs within reason. Now Available on Windows to the Universe!

Plugged in to CO2 Students investigate various appliances and electronics, discovering how much energy each uses and how much carbon dioxide (CO2) is released to produce that energy. Calculate these! Work with your neighbors!

P.S. 1 kilogram (or ~2 pounds) of CO2 gas would fill up an average refrigerator. Discussion questions: Did the appliances that use the most energy according to the kill-a-watt meter produce the most CO2 over a year? How can we reduce the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere while still using these appliances?

CO2: How Much Do You Spew? Students analyze the energy consumption of a hypothetical household to determine the amount of carbon dioxide they are adding to the atmosphere each year.

CO2: How Much Do You Spew? Directions: Each group has a card profiling a hypothetical family or individual. Families/individuals live in different situations & use energy in different ways. Students use the worksheet to calculate a households CO2 emissions. Sample card

Answer Key for CO2: How Much Do You Spew Sample discussion questions: 1.What activities emitted the most CO2 for the family you examined? 2.Could those activities be changed to emit less CO2? How? 3.How would you change your scenario to reduce CO2? (Above is from last page of activity handout. Units are pounds of CO2)

How do you use natural resources? Watch Where You Step © Facing the Future First, Choose: A Favorite Meal A Favorite Object A Piece of Clothing A Mode of Transportation Then, Diagram: Resources needed Processes needed Impacts on the environment

slaughterhouse packaging Transport to the store gasoline highways Refrigerated truck styrofoam plastic wrap Grazing land Cattle feed pesticides fertilizer Fossil fuels for tractors water soil tractors sun Cow Beef cooking stove natural gas pan Transport home gasoline roads car refrigerator

Guiding questions Whats it made of? What resources are needed to make it? What processes are needed to make it? Is transportation required? Are fossil fuels required? What are the possible impacts?

© Facing the Future Ecological Footprint: Watch Where You Step Ecological Footprint The area of the earths productive surface (land and sea) that it takes to produce the goods and services necessary to support a persons or a populations lifestyle.

© Facing the Future

Facing the Future Resources Teacher lesson plan books Many lessons available for free at week curriculum units Containing lesson plans and student readings Student textbooks Linked to lessons available on website

UCAR Office of Education and Outreach, Boulder, CO, Workshops and Presentations Saturday, March 20 8:00 – 9:00 Tackling the Global Warming Challenge - Sheraton, Philadelphia South 9: :30 Cloudy Day Activities - Sheraton, Independence A 9: :30 NESTA Earth Science Share-a-thon - Sheraton Liberty A/B 2:00 - 3:00 Getting Students Involved with BudBurst - Sheraton, Philadelphia South 5:00 – 6:00 Climate Change: Classroom Tools - Sheraton, Liberty C

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Are you looking for an online Professional Development Opportunity? Climate Discovery, a series of online professional development courses for middle and high school educators Summer Semester – June 18 to August 8, 2010 CD 501 – Introduction to Climate Change CD 502 – Earth System Science: A Climate Change Perspective CD 503 – Understanding Climate Change Today For registration information visit

UCAR Office of Education and Outreach, Boulder, CO, For more information, visit Windows to the Universe or Lisa at Saturday, March 20 8:00 – 9:00 Tackling the Global Warming Challenge - Sheraton, Philadelphia South 9: :30 Cloudy Day Activities - Sheraton, Independence A 9: :30 NESTA Earth Science Share-a-thon - Sheraton Liberty A/B 2:00 - 3:00 Getting Students Involved with BudBurst - Sheraton, Philadelphia South 5:00 – 6:00 Climate Change: Classroom Tools - Sheraton, Liberty C