Evaluating the Evidence for Climate Change
Provided by: National Center for Science Education|Published on: February 16, 2025|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: National Center for Science Education
Location: North America > United States
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 →
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 →
Synopsis
- In this 5-lesson unit, students will analyze data, media, and experiment results to determine the extent of climate change, the chemical reaction present in energy transfer, and how some use information to downplay climate change.
- Students will measure the carbon present in water, use a simulation of the greenhouse effect, and create a model of the impact of ice on the flow of energy.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- Side Quest 2a is an engaging, hands-on way to demonstrate transferring energy.
- The DataWISE tool in Activity 4 is a great resource students can implement outside of this unit for data analysis and media literacy.
Prerequisites
- Students should have some background knowledge about climate change and chemical compounds.
- Teachers will need BTB solutions and ethanol for Activity 2.
- The Activity 2 Slide Deck referenced in the lesson guide is missing from the materials. Teachers may want to create their own slides to illustrate topics like fossil fuels, ethanol, and the results of the demonstration. The student worksheet also references the video Fossil Fuels 101 by Student Energy but does not link to it.
- In Side Quest 4a, the link to the video is broken. Teachers can find the video here.
Differentiation & Implementation
- When doing the simulation in Activity 3, teachers may want to show students how to convert their screens to split-screen mode to reduce frustration and confusion with toggling between the simulation and the directions.
- The final activity briefly touches on albedo and ice melt. Weather permitting, the Amazing Albedo activity is a hands-on way to demonstrate the Albedo effect. If students can't go outside, the Arctic Sea Ice vs. Time math and science lesson is an alternative extension.
- After learning about feedback loops and climate change, students can check out the Sustainable Development Goals to see the human aspects of solving climate change. The Sustainable Climate Solutions: Story Short is another similar unit that teachers can transition to after completing this one.
This five-activity unit guides students in understanding the basic science of and messaging about energy and climate change. Each activity addresses common misconceptions clearly, and figures and data are well-sourced throughout. An excellent simulation tool from UC Boulder provides a clear visualization of the greenhouse effect. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
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