Seeing (Infra)Red
Provided by: Paleontological Research Institution|Published on: April 27, 2021|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Videos
Subjects: Physics, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: Paleontological Research Institution
Location: Earth
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
- This video from the Paleontological Research Institution describes the electromagnetic spectrum and demonstrates how infrared radiation can be absorbed using an infrared camera.
- The narrator describes the analogy of the greenhouse effect and how it relates to Earth's atmosphere.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The video's thorough verbal explanation and visual demonstration are very effective in explaining this difficult topic.
- The narrator talks at a pace that is conducive to taking notes or drawing a diagram on the board for students.
Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with the electromagnetic spectrum and terms like visible light, infrared radiation, and wavelength.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Consider having students draw a diagram of their understanding of the greenhouse effect after watching the video. Students may need to watch the video multiple times to accomplish this.
- Have students see the difference between different materials and their ability to absorb infrared radiation by having them hold various items (pencil, paperclip, ball of paper, etc.) for a minute and then compare the infrared radiation from them.
- To dive deeper into the science of the greenhouse effect and climate change, high school students may benefit from this interactive online lesson called Heating it Up: The Chemistry of the Greenhouse Effect.
This resource uses an infrared camera to visualize the greenhouse effect. The Earth emits infrared radiation and carbon dioxide, one of the leading Greenhouse Gases, absorbs that infrared radiation and makes the planet warmer. This video visually demonstrates that effectively. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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