Lesson Outline Explanation of lesson structure to teach the objectives (5 minutes) Explanation of activity (10 minutes) Perform activity (25 minutes) Discussion on answers for activity (15 minutes)

Lesson Structure Explain an issue Present two or more competing claims with “supporting” information that deals with a specific aspect of that issue. Students perform a task that involves:  Interpreting and evaluating information.  Deciding to support one of the claims based only on the information that was provided to justify each claim.  Explaining what additional information would be needed for them to fully believe the claim they supported. What information would be needed for them to believe the claim they refuted

Global Warming Lesson GLCE standards that could be covered:  P.EN Explain how different forms of energy can be transferred from one place to another by radiation, conduction, or convection.  L.EC Describe how human beings are part of the ecosystem of the Earth and that human activity can purposefully, or accidentally, alter the balance in ecosystems.  P.EN Explain how only a tiny fraction of light energy from the sun is transformed to heat energy on Earth.  E.ES Describe the relationship between the warming of the atmosphere of the Earth by the sun and convection within the atmosphere and oceans.  E.ES Describe how the warming of the Earth by the sun produces winds and ocean currents.  E.ES Describe the origins of pollution in the atmosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere, (car exhaust, industrial emissions, acid rain, and natural sources), and how pollution impacts habitats, climatic change, threatens or endangers species.  E.ES Describe how different weather occurs due to the constant motion of the atmosphere from the energy of the sun reaching the surface of the Earth.

Global Warming Lesson HSCE standards that could be covered:  E5.4A Explain the natural mechanism of the greenhouse effect, including comparisons of the major greenhouse gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone).  E5.4C Analyze the empirical relationship between the emissions of carbon dioxide, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, and the average global temperature over the past 150 years.  E5.4D Based on evidence of observable changes in recent history and climate change models, explain the consequences of warmer oceans (including the results of increased evaporation, shoreline and estuarine impacts, oceanic algae growth, and coral bleaching) and changing climatic zones (including the adaptive capacity of the biosphere).  E5.4g Compare and contrast the heat-trapping mechanisms of the major greenhouse gases resulting from emissions (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, fluorocarbons) as well as their abundance and heat- trapping capacity  B3.4C Examine the negative impact of human activities.  B3.4d Describe the greenhouse effect and list possible causes.  B3.4e List the possible causes and consequences of global warming.

Global Warming Lesson A contentious debate exists surrounding the earth's climate since the industrial revolution. Some people believe the earth has been warming.  Solar radiation powers the earth's climate system.

The radiation balance of the earth could change due to the: 1.Amount of incoming solar radiation (by changes in Earth’s orbit or in the Sun) 2.Fraction of solar radiation that gets reflected instead of absorbed (by changes in cloud cover or atmospheric particles) 3.Amount of thermal radiation sent from Earth back towards space (by changing greenhouse gas concentrations). People have made claims for each of these as the cause of global warming.

Claims 1.Global warming has not occurred since the time of the industrial revolution. 2.The main cause of global warming from the time of the industrial revolution to the present has been natural changes in the amount of solar radiance from solar flares. 3.The main cause of global warming from the industrial revolution to the present has been an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere during that time.

Activity with worksheet Consider three claims regarding global warming. Examine information as it relates to these claims, which includes:  Interpreting the information  Evaluating the relevancy of the information  Evaluating the reliability of the information Decide which claim to support based on the given information. Determine what additional information is needed (if any) to convince you to believe that claim. Class discussion at conclusion of activity