Factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century

Standards Alignment

• MS-ESS3-5 primary
  Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.

Lesson Overview

This Grade 8 science lesson explores the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century, focusing on human activities and their impact on Earth's climate. Students will engage in questioning, evidence analysis, and model development to understand global warming within the context of weather and climate science, aligned with NGSS standard MS-ESS3-5.

Learning Objectives

• Ask scientific questions to clarify and investigate evidence about the causes of the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
• Analyze data and evidence related to human activities and natural factors influencing global warming.
• Develop explanations based on evidence about how human actions contribute to climate change.
• Communicate scientific reasoning clearly to support claims about global temperature changes.

Success Criteria

• Students can formulate relevant questions about factors causing global temperature rise.
• Students can identify and explain evidence linking human activities, such as greenhouse gas emissions, to global warming.
• Students can use models or data to support explanations of climate change factors.
• Students can revise their explanations based on new evidence or peer feedback.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Students should understand basic concepts of weather and climate, including temperature, air pressure, and the greenhouse effect. Familiarity with scientific inquiry and interpreting data is helpful.

Key Vocabulary

• Global warming
• Greenhouse gases
• Fossil fuels
• Climate change
• Evidence
• Scientific explanation
• Human activities
• Temperature rise

Materials and Resources

• Charts or graphs showing global temperature trends over the past century
• Data sets or visualizations of greenhouse gas emissions
• Diagrams or models illustrating the greenhouse effect
• Access to digital simulations or videos about climate change (optional)
• Question prompt cards or worksheets

Teacher Preparation

• Review NGSS standard MS-ESS3-5 and related curriculum materials on global climate change.
• Prepare data visuals showing temperature trends and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Gather or create question prompts to guide student inquiry.
• Set up any digital tools or simulations if used.
• Plan discussion questions to encourage critical thinking about evidence and human impact.

Detailed Lesson Notes

Understanding Global Temperature Rise

Global temperatures have increased over the past century, a phenomenon known as global warming. This rise is measured by changes in Earth's mean surface temperature. Understanding this change involves examining evidence from temperature records and identifying factors that contribute to it.

Human Activities and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, leading to an increase in Earth's surface temperature. This is a major factor in the current rise in global temperatures.

Scientific Inquiry: Asking Questions to Clarify Evidence

Students should learn to ask focused scientific questions that help clarify the evidence about global warming. For example, 'What evidence shows that human activities contribute to temperature rise?' or 'How do greenhouse gases affect Earth's temperature?' Asking such questions guides investigation and deepens understanding.

Using Models and Data to Explain Climate Change

Models such as diagrams of the greenhouse effect or data charts of temperature and emissions help students visualize and explain how global warming occurs. Developing and revising these models based on evidence is a key scientific practice.

Misconceptions to Address

A common misconception is that natural factors alone cause global warming. While natural events can affect climate, the significant rise in temperatures over the past century is largely due to human activities. Another misconception is that climate change is too slow or insignificant to impact daily life, but evidence shows it affects weather patterns and ecosystems.

Worked Examples

Classroom Activity

Students work in groups to examine data on fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas levels, discussing how these might relate to temperature changes.

Guided Practice

Independent Practice

1. Foundational: What is one major human activity that causes the rise in global temperatures?
2. Developing: Explain how greenhouse gases affect Earth's temperature.
3. Application: Look at a data chart showing increased carbon dioxide emissions and global temperature rise. How would you use this data to support the idea that human activities cause global warming?
4. Analysis: Compare natural factors and human activities as causes of global temperature rise. Which has a greater impact over the past century and why?
5. Challenge: Develop a scientific explanation using evidence to answer: How can understanding the causes of global temperature rise help society reduce climate change impacts?

Independent Practice Teacher Answer Key

1. 1. Burning fossil fuels, which releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
2. 2. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, preventing it from escaping into space, which causes Earth's temperature to increase.
3. 3. The data show that as carbon dioxide emissions increase, global temperatures also rise, suggesting that human activities releasing CO2 contribute to warming.
4. 4. Human activities have a greater impact because the significant rise in temperatures over the past century correlates strongly with increased greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels, unlike natural factors which have less influence on this timescale.
5. 5. Understanding that human activities like burning fossil fuels increase greenhouse gases and cause global warming allows society to develop strategies such as reducing emissions, using renewable energy, and changing behaviors to mitigate climate change and reduce its harmful effects.

Guiding Questions

• What evidence shows that global temperatures are rising?
• How do human activities contribute to this rise?
• What questions help clarify the causes of global warming?
• How can models help explain climate change?
• What actions can reduce human impact on climate?

Common Misconceptions

• Global warming is caused only by natural events, not human activities.
• Climate change happens too slowly to affect daily life or weather.
• Greenhouse gases are always harmful and should be eliminated completely (some are natural and necessary).
• Temperature rise is uniform everywhere on Earth (it varies by region).

Differentiation

Assessment

• Students generate questions about causes of global warming from temperature data.
• Students explain how greenhouse gases contribute to temperature rise using data evidence.
• Write one question you have about the causes of global warming.
• Explain in one or two sentences how human activities affect Earth's temperature.
• Create a model or diagram showing how human activities cause global warming.
• Write a short explanation using evidence about the rise in global temperatures over the past century.

Answer Guide

• What is one major human activity that causes the rise in global temperatures?
  Answer: Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases that cause global temperatures to rise.
• Explain how greenhouse gases affect Earth's temperature.
  Answer: They trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to an increase in Earth's surface temperature.
• How do data showing rising carbon dioxide levels and temperatures support human impact on global warming?
  Answer: The simultaneous increase suggests that human-released CO2 contributes to trapping heat and warming the planet.
• Why is human activity considered a greater factor than natural causes in recent global warming?
  Answer: Because the rapid temperature rise matches increased greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, unlike natural factors which have smaller effects.
• How can understanding climate change causes help reduce its impacts?
  Answer: It guides actions like reducing emissions and adopting technologies to limit warming and protect the environment.

Real-Life Application

Encourage students to discuss with family members about energy use at home and ways to reduce carbon footprints, such as conserving electricity or using public transportation.

Homework or Home Connection

• Encourage students to discuss with family members about energy use at home and ways to reduce carbon footprints, such as conserving electricity or using public transportation.

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students explored the rise in global temperatures over the past century by asking questions and analyzing evidence about human activities, especially greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. They developed scientific explanations supported by data and models, addressed common misconceptions, and considered how understanding climate science can help society reduce the impacts of climate change.

Teacher Notes

Use the exact standards alignment and retrieved-source provenance stored with this enrichment.

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