What’s the Deal with Methane?
Videos
Grades6-APChemistry, Earth 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 The Kid Should See This
What it is
- This 2-minute video explains what methane is, the major human sources of methane, and why reducing it matters for climate change.
- Students learn about key differences between methane and carbon dioxide as greenhouse gases and understand why targeting methane can quickly mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Teaching tips
Prerequisites:
- Students should already know that carbon dioxide emissions enhance the greenhouse effect, causing climate change.
Classroom Implementation:
- Use this short video to introduce other greenhouse gases when teaching the causes of climate change, then have students compare methane and carbon dioxide in terms of source, heat-trapping strength, and how long each remains in the atmosphere.
- After viewing, ask students to map the three major human sources of methane (energy, agriculture, and waste) to actions individuals, communities, or governments could take to reduce emissions from each.
- Too deepen students' understanding of chemical properties, discuss how carbon dioxide and methane's molecular structures play a role in their potency and lifespan.
Extensions:
- Use this article to dive deeper into the Paris Agreement and nationally determined contributions (NDCs), as mentioned at the end of the video.
- Have students explore methane emissions data by sector using this interactive graph.
- Have students use evidence from the video to construct a claim about why reducing methane is often described as a comparatively fast and cost-effective climate strategy.
From the scientist review
This resource is a concise primer to the potent greenhouse gas methane. Rather than simply focusing on the problem, the video clearly details a number of interventions to reduce global methane emissions. This resource is grounded in rigorous climate science and is recommended for teaching.
Ready to use it?
Hosted on thekidshouldseethis.com
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
