The Chemistry of Climate Change

Students collaboratively develop system models of the Earth’s energy budget and greenhouse effect by obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information and using mathematics and computational thinking. Students then investigate patterns of stability and change in atmospheric composition using CO2 data, and various proxy indicators such as tree rings and ice core data. Students carry out a series of investigations involving feedback loops, carbon sequestration, renewable energy, carbon capture, and then construct explanations, define problems, and choose a mitigation strategy to research and communicate to their peers. Finally students will engineer a scrubber for carbon capture by planning and carrying out investigations using various materials to evaluate which work best and communicate their findings.