NASA Global Warming Demonstration
Videos
Grades3-12Earth and Space Sciences
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by NASA
What it is
- This video demonstrates the heat capacity difference between air and water using a flame and balloons, which teachers in the classroom can recreate.
- As the Earth grows warmer due to climate change, the oceans absorb much more heat than the atmosphere absorbs.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The video includes a great animation of the greenhouse effect.
- It ends on a hopeful note with a couple of ideas for how individuals can help reduce the use of fossil fuels.
Additional Prerequisites
- To recreate the demonstration in person, teachers will need balloons, a lighter, water, and safety goggles.
- The video briefly explains the connections to climate change, but teachers should be prepared to discuss this further.
Differentiation
- Teachers can use this demonstration as a phenomenon to anchor a lesson about heat capacity or climate change.
- The simple video explanations and animations are geared toward younger students. To make this more advanced for older students, teachers can add instruction about the molecular side of heat capacity.
- Teachers can follow this demonstration with exploration on sea mitigation strategies.
- If you have students who are sensitive to loud noises, use whatever strategy (noise canceling headphones, watching only the video, etc.) works best to allow those students to comfortably experience the demonstration.
From the scientist review
This classroom activity / demonstration from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology provides a visual representation of the greenhouse effect and how the oceans are absorbing heat-trapping gases from the atmosphere.
Ready to use it?
Hosted on jpl.nasa.gov
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
