Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect
Program Description
This interactive program examines how people are altering the composition of the atmosphere and the affect it has on climate change in southwestern British Columbia. Students find answers to the following questions:
- What is the greenhouse effect?
- What are greenhouse gases?
- What is making the greenhouse effect stronger?
- How do people in the Okanagan contribute to greenhouse gas emissions?
- What is climate change?
- How can climate change affect water supplies, food production, human health, sea - level rise, weather extremes, environmental refugees, ecosystem health and biodiversity?
- What can we do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Classroom Activities
1. Modeling the Greenhouse Effect
In this session the students perform an experiment to learn about the greenhouse effect. By constructing a physical model of the atmosphere using familiar materials, the students discover that air trapped in a container will heat up more than air in an open container, when both are exposed to the same amount of energy from a light bulb. In a comparable (but different) way, the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere acts as a "heat trap" for energy from the Sun.
The objectives of this session are to: 1) provide basic information about the Earth's atmosphere and how scientists use models to study it; (2) provide students with an opportunity to build and test a physical model analogous to the atmospheric greenhouse effect; (3) introduce the concepts of energy transfer and thermal equilibrium; and (4) give students practice in setting up controlled experiments, accurately recording data, graphing, and interpreting the results.
2. The Interaction Between Photons and Molecules - Drama
This is a demonstration that illustrates how the greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat. Students will be able to dramatize how light from the sun (visible photons) interacts with the Earth's atmosphere and warms the Earth. The demonstration will also illustrate how infrared heat given off by the Earth is easily trapped by greenhouse gases and how this affects the temperature in our atmosphere.
3. Exploring Climate Change in British Columbia
With the help of fact cards detailing the consequences of climate change in British Columbia, students will break into groups and answer questions given to them relating to the cards. After students have discussed and answered the questions with their group, teacher and presenter, the group will present their questions and answers to the class. The class can then pose questions about that material to the group or the presenter.
4. I Know Game
Students are asked to form two teams and then lined up beside each other. The two students at the front of each line are asked a question pertinent to the presentation. The first student to say "I Know" gets an opportunity to answer the question. If the student answers the question correctly, their team gets a point. This is a good activity to wrap up the presentation with, because it summarizes most of the important points.
Booking a Presentation
This free, exciting interactive program for students is available through the City of Kelowna’s Environment Division. To book the “Gliding through the Airshed” or “Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect” program, or one of the “Wading through the Watershed” programs, please contact Michelle Kam at 468-8982.