What is Causing Global Warming?

Subject:
Science
Grades:
7, 8, 9, 10
Title: What is Causing Global Warming?

Grade/Subject Level: 7 10

Overview: Help students identify and understand the influencing factors of global warming, sources of
atmospheric carbon dioxide, and the different fossil fuels that contribute to the global climate.

Purpose:
Engage students using a variety of media outlets to analyze and evaluate the relationship
between CO2 and global warming. Help students understand the effect of greenhouse gas on the
environment and how natural and industrial carbon dioxide circulate through atmospheric systems.

Lesson Objectives:

Students will identify the factors that have influenced global climate in the past.
Students will review the greenhouse effect and its influence on climate, identify major greenhouse
gases and their atmospheric percentages, and understand why carbon dioxide is considered the
greenhouse gas most responsible for contemporary global warming.
Students will identify natural and industrial sources of atmospheric carbon dioxide and
understand the ways in which it cycles through systems.
Students will define and identify different types of fossil fuels, industrial sources of carbon dioxide
and changes in carbon dioxide concentrations since the industry era.
Students will understand the correlation between atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and
average global temperature.
Students will analyze and evaluate conflicting information about CO 2 and global warming.
Students will learn strategies for evaluating scientific claims made in the media.

Vocabulary:
Atmosphere, sun cycles, volcanism, greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases, carbon
dioxide, methane, CFCs, nitrous oxides and sulfur oxides, carbon cycle, carbon sink, carbon
sequestration, fossil fuels, industrialization, forcing agent

Biology: Life Systemscells

Subject:
Science
Grades:
4, 5, 6, 7
Standards:

NCESLife Science Standards levels 5-8Structure and Function in Living Systems (National
Academy of Sciences [NAS], 1996)

GPS: S7L2Students will describe the structure and function of cells, tissues, organs, and organ
systems.
o

b) Relate cell structures (cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplasts, and

mitochondria) to basic cell functions (Cox, 2007).

Objectives:

Academic: Students will be able to identify all the main structures and functions of an animal cell.

Language: Students will be able to understand and define all age-appropriate vocabulary related
to the structure and function of an animal cell.

Materials:

Student Provided:
o

Model making materials (students may decide what to usesome suggestions are
modeling clay of varying colors, shoe boxes, pipe cleaners, buttons, etc.)

Paper/Notebooks

Pencils/pens/colored pencils/markers/crayons

Teacher Provided:
o

Vocabulary lists for each student

Any materials needed for lecture i.e.: slides, power point, etc.

Vocabulary List: Can be used to help ELLs to stay in touch with the vocabulary that will be used during
this lesson
1.

Cell- Basic unit of structure and function in living things

2.

Organelles- structures within a cell

3.

Cell Membrane- Thin structure that surrounds a cell

4.

Nucleus- Control center of a cell

5.

Cytoplasm- Gel-like substance inside the cell where most of the cells activities take place

6.

Mitochondria- Structure that releases energy for the cell

7.

Eukaryote- a cell that has a nucleus (plant and animal cells)

8.

DNA- Large molecule contained in chromosomes

9.

Diffusion- Movement of material from an area where molecules are crowded to an area where
they are less crowded

10.

Osmosis- Movement of water through a membrane

11.

Passive transport- Movement of materials through a membrane without the use of energy

12.

Active transport- Movement of materials through a membrane using energy