Carbon Footprint
http://www.iclimate.org/ccc/Files/footprint.pdf
http://www.iclimate.org/ccc/Files/footprint.pdf
Activities for Conceptualizing Climate and Climate Change, Perdue University
Activity takes about two 45-minute class periods. Computer access is necessary for part of the lesson.
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Topics
Grade Level
Climate Literacy
About Teaching Climate Literacy
GPe 
GPeA combination of strategies is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The most immediate strategy is conservation of oil, gas, and coal, which we rely on as fuels for most of our transportation, heating, cooling, agriculture, and electricity. Short-term strategies involve switching from carbon-intensive to renewable energy sources, which also requires building new infrastructure for alternative energy sources. Long-term strategies involve innovative research and a fundamental change in the way humans use energy.
Other materials addressing GPe
Actions taken by individuals, communities, states, and countries all influence climate. Practices and policies followed in homes, schools, businesses, and governments can affect climate. Climate-related decisions made by one generation can provide opportunities as well as limit the range of possibilities open to the next generation. Steps toward reducing the impact of climate change may influence the present generation by providing other benefits such as improved public health infrastructure and sustainable built environments.
Other materials addressing GPg
The amount of solar energy absorbed or radiated by Earth is modulated by the atmosphere and depends on its composition. Greenhouse gases—such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane—occur naturally in small amounts and absorb and release heat energy more efficiently than abundant atmospheric gases like nitrogen and oxygen. Small increases in carbon dioxide concentration have a large effect on the climate system.
Other materials addressing 2c
Energy Awareness
About Teaching Energy Awareness
C. Humans' use of energy has consequences on the environment that sustains them. (Impacts of Energy Use)
C. Impacts of Energy Use.
Benchmarks for Science Literacy
Learn more about the Benchmarks
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, are transparent to much of the incoming sunlight but not to the infrared light from the warmed surface of the earth. When greenhouse gases increase, more thermal energy is trapped in the atmosphere, and the temperature of the earth increases the light energy radiated into space until it again equals the light energy absorbed from the sun.
Notes From Our Reviewers
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Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy |
Technical Details
Teaching Tips
- Educators might want to provide students with a parent letter explaining the lesson, since parents have to help students with determining the amount of electricity and water usage in their home.
- The students also complete the class carbon footprint. This may address equity issues - educator might have to adjust the discussion accordingly.
About the Science
- Students use the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) carbon calculator to calculate their family's green house gas emissions. This calculator is credible and constantly updated.
- The greenhouse gas calculator, like many that exist, is too much like a black box and educator should stress these uncertainties and show students some exemplary calculations.
- In this activity, students use simple statistics to describe their results.This guides students to understand statistical concepts like mean, median, and mode.
- Comment from expert scientist: The activity lists nitrous oxide as a greenhouse gas which it is but then it gives the chemical formula as NOx when nitrous oxide is N2O. NOx nitrogen oxides are an important component of urban pollution but do not themselves really contribute to the greenhouse effect. Nitrous oxide also seems to not belong in this activity since the primary emissions of N2O are from industrial farming and fertilizer, which is not really controlled on an individual level and is not accounted for in the activity as far as I can tell. In addition, nitrous oxide is only a single compound, and it shouldn't be used in the plural form.
About the Pedagogy
- Students use class data to plot and analyze a graph of greenhouse gas emissions averaged for the entire class.
- The activity is nicely organized and has an attractive format that will engage students.
- The students develop strategies for reducing their family carbon footprint.
- All necessary data sheets are included in the lesson for student use.
- The worksheet exercise is very long.
Technical Details/Ease of Use
- The activity is robust and very well done.
- Educator must open separate windows for teacher guide activity and PowerPoint slides at http://www.iclimate.org/ccc/.
Related URLs These related sites were noted by our reviewers but have not been reviewed by CLEAN
This activity is one of four climate modules created by Purdue University This activity is the fourth of five activities from the CURRENT CLIMATE MAPS module. The conceptual framework concept map and Project Overview, as well as the educators background PowerPoint presentation for the activity and data sheets, are located at: http://www.iclimate.org/ccc/.Jump to Carbon Footprint
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