Climate Change: How Does It Really Work?
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Science
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Provided by ClimateScience
What it is
- This short video from ClimateScience explains what is causing climate change and the consequences of global warming.
- Students will learn that greenhouse gas emissions have caused the Earth to warm at an unprecedented rate, endangering species that cannot adapt quickly enough to the changing environment.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The video is short and engaging.
- This resource explains the fundamental causes of global warming in an easy way.
Prerequisites
- Students should have some familiarity with greenhouse gases.
- This is a simple explanation of greenhouse gases, so it only includes carbon dioxide and methane as examples. Other greenhouse gases include water vapor, nitrous oxide, and halocarbons.
Differentiation & Implementation
- After watching the video, students can discuss how and why the recent rise in global temperatures is different from historical changes in Earth's climate.
- Biology classes can use this video in a lesson on evolution. The video explains that climate change is happening too rapidly for species to adapt. Students could write a paragraph explaining why species cannot evolve quickly enough to survive climate change.
- Other resources on this topic include this StC lesson plan on climate change solutions, this media literacy activity on climate change and biodiversity, and this article about species that are confused by climate change.
From the scientist review
The resource explains the greenhouse effect and the need to limit CO2 emissions from sources to combat climate change. The data presented in the video is unbiased. The resource is recommended for teaching.
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