Lesson 1: Introduction of Global Warming
Objectives
Student will:
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- Learn about global warming, evidence for global warming, and climate change.
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- Consider what might be considered as evidence of global warming.
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- Learn what impact global warming might have on our lives.
Materials and Resources:
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1. Internet Access
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2. Library
Activity Description:
Students can use printed or on-line resources to learn about global warming, change in the earth's climate over time, atmospheric models that predict future changes, terminology, and possible impacts of global warming on earth.
As students research global warming, they should answer these three question:
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1. What evidence is there that the earth is actually warming up?
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2. What might be causing any global warming?
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3. What effect might global warming have on the earth's inhabitants?
Lesson 2: The Power of Weather ( When Natural Hazards Become Natural Disasters)
Objectives:
Students will:
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- describe aspects of natural events that pose threats to humans.
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- use scientific vocabulary to summarize research about natural hazards, and
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- compare and discuss the relative dangers posed by natural disasters.
Materials:
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1. Internet access.
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2. Library
Activity Description:
Clarify the terms "natural hazard" and "natural disaster"
Students should make a list of types of natural events (weather related) that harm people, homes and or possession. Have students to decide which hazard they consider the worst and make a class list. Students will independently research a natural hazard, ideally the one they chose as the worst, if not have them choose one off the list so that the are all
researched. They will research and discuss the hazard in general and at least one that became a historical natural disaster.
Research focus questions:
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- Why is this natural event hazardous for people? ( Discuss the frequency and severity of the event, the number of people affected, or whether or not the event can be predicted.)
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- In what states, countries, or regions does this natural event occur? Is there a spatial pattern to the event?
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- What words and phrases are used when studying, describing, and measuring the event?
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- How many human causalities (injuries or deaths) are caused annually by the hazard? What amount of property damage does the hazard cause? ( in general and your specific disaster)
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- What do scientist understand about this natural event? What do they not yet understand?
Each student will develop a power point presentation on there researched information, answering as many focus questions as possible. The presentation should include pictures, charts and graphs.
Lesson 3: The Greenhouse Effect Debate (Persuasive Essay)
Objective:
Students will write a persuasive essay with a main idea, supporting points, arguments refuting other views and a strong conclusion.
Materials:
1. Pen
2. Paper
Activity:
Students will take a position on the issue and support it with data. They will write to answer the following questions.
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1. In your opinion, is global warming an imminent world threat? Why or why not?
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2. Based on your opinion, what actions do you believe should be taken to address the global warming issue? Use specific information.
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3. Introduction - has a hook or a grabber to catch the reader's attention. It should also include a thesis or focus statement. A thesis statement tells the reader the specific topic of your essay. It imposes manageable limits on that topic. It suggests the organization of your paper.
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4. The Body - provides evidence to support opinion offered in the thesis statement in the introduction. The body should consist of at least three paragraphs. Each paragraph is based on a solid reason to back your thesis statement. One of the three paragraphs should be used to discuss opposing viewpoints and your counter-argument. Elaboration is needed, use statistics or research, real life experiences, or examples.
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5. The Conclusion - Restate your thesis, summarize the main points and write a personal comment or call for action.
