Powering a Warming Planet

Fossil fuels are amazing substances. They provide the energy that keeps the world going. Yet, their ongoing use is causing global warming, which can lead to climate change and many other issues. This unit consists of three learning sets:

1. Evidence for global warming is provided and a case is made that this is caused primarily by CO2. Most atmospheric CO2 comes from burning fossil fuels for energy.

2. Why does burning fossil fuels emit CO2? This learning will track the carbon cycle and its relations with energy and all living things.

3. The final learning set addresses the question, how can we reduce CO2 emissions? It presents ways to decrease energy use, alternative energy sources, the promise and weakness of each approach.

The unit emphasizes the use of public data, quantitative reasoning, and the disparities in energy use worldwide and builds students' awareness of the importance of using science in addressing this grand challenge.

Unit Overview & Pacing Guide

Storyline

Lesson set 1 - What causes global warming? This lesson set introduces climate change and links climate change with the use of fossil fuels. This lesson set focuses on the complex issues caused by fossil fuels.

Lesson set 2 - Where does the carbon come from and where does it it go? In this lesson set, learners are tying together the connection between fossil fuels, energy sources, and the carbon cycle to ultimately draw conclusions about the rising temperatures on Earth and human decisions. 

Lesson set 3 - How can we reduce the emission of CO2? This lesson set focuses on new energy sources and student generated solutions to control and decrease the atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Standards

North Carolina

7.P.2 Understand forms of energy, energy transfer and transformation and conservation in mechanical systems.

• 7.P.2.1 Explain how kinetic and potential energy contribute to the mechanical energy of an object.

• 7.P.2.2 Explain how energy can be transformed from one form to another (specifically potential energy and kinetic energy) using a model or diagram of a moving object (roller coaster, pendulum, or cars on ramps as examples).

7.E.1 Understand how the cycling of matter (water and gases) in and out of the atmosphere relates to Earth’s atmosphere, weather and climate and the effects of the atmosphere on humans.

• 7.E.1.6 Conclude that the good health of humans requires: monitoring the atmosphere, maintaining air quality and stewardship.

• 7.L.1.4 Summarize the general functions of the major systems of the human body (digestion, respiration, reproduction, circulation, and excretion) and ways that these systems interact with each other to sustain life.

NGSS

PS3.B: Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer

• When the kinetic energy of an object changes, there is inevitably some other change in energy at the same time. (MS‐PS3‐5)

• The amount of energy transfer needed to change the temperature of a matter sample by a given amount depends on the nature of the matter, the size of the sample, and the environment. (MS‐PS3‐4)

Instructional Sequence
Total time:16 hours of learning + 2～4 hours for final project

📂 Complete List of Materials

Lesson Set 1

Teacher Materials

Teacher Slides 1.1 What causes climate change?

Teacher Slides 1.1 CO2 and temperature-Graphic reading scaffold

Teacher Slides 1.2 Climate change: human activities vs natural climate variations

Teacher slides 1.3 What are our energy sources?

1.3 Fossil Fuels (Answer sheet)

1.3 How much energy do we use (Answer sheet)

Teacher slides 1.4 What are the problems with fossil fuels?

Teacher slides 1.5 Who Use? Who Gain? Who Lose?

Student Materials

Student material: 1.1 Card sorting images (recommend 1 set per group)

Student worksheet:1.1 The Greenhouse effect online simulation

Student material: 1.2 Evidence cards and questions

Student material: 1.2 Evidence cards and questions (Answers) 

Student worksheet: 1.2 Climate change: Human activities VS natural climate variations (worksheet)

Student worksheet 1.2 Climate change: Human activities VS natural climate variations (answers) 

Student worksheet 1.3 Fossil Fuels

Student worksheet 1.3 How much energy do we use?

Reading cards 1.5 Transitioning from coal. What makes it difficult?

Student lab materials: Acid rain 

• PH test strips and scale

• Water (1/2 cup per group)

• Carbonated water (1/2 cup per group)

• 100ml beaker (4 per group)

• Egg shells (2 medium size pieces per group)

• Thin green leaves (e.g., basil leaves; 2 per group)

• Any paper that can be used to label the beakers

Lesson Set 2

Teacher Materials

• Teacher slides titled: NC 2.1  Oxygen & Carbon Dioxide

• Teacher slide titled: NC 2.2 The carbon cycle

Demonstration: Photosynthesis

• 1 CO2 detector (make sure it is charged ahead of time)

• Gallon bag

• Spinach leaves (pre-soaked in water works best)

• Lamp (with grow lights) or access to a window with sufficient sunlight

Student Materials

• • A way to add their CO2 models if they are maintaining personal ones

  • The Story of Oil card sort (cut and mixed up) 1 per group

  • 2.2 What is the value of a tree?

  • 2.2 What is the value of a tree (answer)?

  • Carbon Cycle Models (either independently made ones or class-made model)

Optional

• 1. If you want to redo the burning  candle demonstration: a candle and matches

  2. Some type of whiteboard or chart paper to track CO2 levels 

Lesson Set 3

Teacher Materials

• Teacher slides 3.1 What are clean energy sources？

• Teacher slides 3.2 Final project

Student Materials

• Reading cards 

• 3.1 Clean energy sources worksheet

• 3.2 Final Project: Student instruction

• 3.2 Final Project: Student Reading Materials 

Pedagogical Support