Media-Rich Lesson Template
S. Anderson
Lesson Title:
Carbon Dioxide - Is It Good or Bad?
Grade Levels:
9-12
Time Allotment:
Five 50-minute class periods
Overview:
This lesson would fit in nicely in an 11-12 grade chemistry class. The lesson could take
place when studying combustion reactions or around the observance of Earth Day.
The students will check for prior knowledge, develop an understanding of greenhouse
gases including carbon dioxide, understand how carbon dioxide levels are changing, and
what scientists are proposing to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Subject Matter:
 Carbon Dioxide
 Greenhouse Gases
 Combustion Reactions
 Sequestration
 Global Warming
Learning Objectives:
Students will:
 develop an understanding of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide
 understand humans’ part in the production of carbon dioxide
 understand what is currently being done to address the carbon/carbon dioxide
issue
 be able to navigate through media sources
 hypothesize ways to reduce our carbon footprints
Standards:
National Standards
4B/H2 Transfer of thermal energy between the atmosphere and the land or oceans
produces temperature gradients in the atmosphere and the oceans. Regions at different
temperatures rise or sink or mix, resulting in winds and ocean currents. These winds and
ocean currents, which are also affected by the Earth’s rotation and the shape of the land,
carry thermal energy from warm to cool areas.
4B/H6 The Earth’s climates have changed in the past, are currently changing, and are
expected to change in the future, primarily due to changes in the amount of light reaching
places on the Earth and the composition of the atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels in
the last century has increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which
has contributed to Earth’s warming.
NGSS
HS-PS1-2 Construct and revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical
reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, and
knowledge of the patterns of chemical properties.
HS-ESS3-3
Create a computational simulation to illustrate the relationships among management of
natural resources, the sustainability of human populations, and biodiversity.
HS-ESS3-6
Use a computational representation to illustrate the relationship amount Earth systems
and how these relationships are being modified due to human activity.
ND State Standards
11-12.1.1. Explain how scientists create and use models to address scientific knowledge.
11-12.2.6. Analyze data using appropriate strategies.
11-12.5.3. Explain the short-term and long-term effects of chemical processes (e.g. acid
rain, CO2 emissions, ozone depletion, run-off) on the environment and society.
11-12.6.2. Identify examples of how new technologies advance science.
11-12.7.1. Explain the impact of environmental laws and policies on the environment
and society.
11-12.7.2. Explain ways renewable and nonrenewable resources are managed.
11-12.7.3. Explain the economic and social impact of using alternative energy resources.
Digital Media Components:
PBS Learning Media
Go to PBSLearningMedia.org for all media sources.
Search and Click On
Click On
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Levels
(a document produced by KQED)
Support Materials for Teachers
* Media Literacy worksheet is in Clue into Climate Workbook (page 5)
* Clue into Climate Assessment is in the Climate Change:
Educator Guide (page 7 and 8)
* Greenhouse Gases: Background Article (a 4 page document)
Search and Click On
Click On
Global Warming: Carbon Dioxide and the Greenhouse Effect
(2:26 video)
Support Material for Teachers
* Discussion Questions
Search and Click On
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Levels
(a document/ graph)
Search and Click On
Click On
NOVA ScienceNOW: Capturing Carbon
(5:23 video)
Support Material
* Discussion Questions
Search and Click On
Carbon Lab: The Habitable Planet: A Systems Approach to
Environmental Science
(interactive site)
Launch
Download the Data Table to record data
Open simulator
Search and Click On
Managing Carbon Dioxide Video
(31:40)
Search and Click On
Dan Daly Presentation, Part 1 and 2: Energy/PCOR EERC
(Part 1 – 19:50; Part 2 – 22:22)
Materials:
Internet connection
Projector
Student Packet –
Clue Into Climate Assessment
Background Article
Page for Discussion Questions #1 – first video clip
Media Literacy Sheet
Page for Discussion Questions #2 – second video clip
Data Table for interactive activity
Note taking page for Managing Carbon Dioxide Video
Poster board
Colored Pencils
Markers
Prep for Teachers:
All digital media can be found through the PBS Learning Media Site. Bookmark this site
and organize all of your clips, videos, activities, etc. within the site. It is awesome!
Make copies of all parts of the student packet and prepare the packets ahead of time.
The students should be given the entire packet at the beginning of this lesson.
Introductory Activity: Setting the Stage:
Day 1 1. Students will first take the Clue into Climate Assessment individually using only
their knowledge base.
2. Greenhouse Gases: Background Article will be passed out. After reading the
article, they may change any answers they would like.
3. As you go over the correct answers, have students correct their own papers and
encourage discussion.
Learning Activities:
4. Have students preview the discussion questions for the video clip.
5. Show the video clip – Global Warming: Carbon Dioxide and the Greenhouse
Effect
6. Students should go over discussion questions in groups of 3-4.
7. Notes should be taken on the discussion questions.
8. Assign the media literacy worksheet as homework.
Day 2 –
1. Discuss the media literacy worksheet.
2. Display the graph from Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Levels
3. Discuss the graph.
4. Have students preview the discussion questions for the video clip.
5. Show the video clip – NOVA Capturing Carbon
6. Students should go over discussion question in groups of 3-4.
7. Notes should be taken on the discussion questions.
Day 3 –
1. All students should have Internet access.
2. Students should go to the Carbon Lab: The Habitable Planet: A Systems
Approach to Environmental Science.
3. As students do the simulation, they should record data into the data table.
Day 4 –
1. Watch video – Managing Carbon Dioxide.
2. Take notes on things that they may want to put into their poster.
Culminating Activity:
Day 5 –
1. Each discussion group of 3-4 students should make a poster board.
* Each student should do a part and attach it to one poster board.
* Thought should be given as to what the discussion group thinks is
important for their particular age group to know.
2. Each discussion group will be assigned a class/group to make a poster for.
(Examples: K-6 classrooms, school hallways, school office, and sites within the
community)
3. As students are working on their posters, play Part 1 and Part 2 of the Dan Daly
Presentation Video
Cross-Curricular Extensions:
History –
Create a time line of related topics – energy use, carbon dioxide emissions, etc.
English –
Write and possibly perform a skit discussing alternative forms of energy and present to
other classes.
Extensions:
Have a guest speaker come into the classroom.
Possible speaker topics – Alternative Energy, Carbon Dioxide Sequestration, Oil Boom
in Western North Dakota
Community Connections:
Brainstorm as a class ways to get the local community to reduce their carbon footprint.
Students should then decide upon a project that could be done in the community and
follow through as a group.
Student Materials:
The student packet as discussed in the materials list
A computer on day 3 of the lesson