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National Cayman Trust

CC3. What is the History of the Earth's climate and how do we know?

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About Lesson

Duration: 55 minutes

In this lesson students will explore the history of the Earths climate and look at how important data collection is to understanding and monitoring climate change over the years. 

Educational Goals: 

  • Students will explore the long-term patterns of climate change on the Earth, focusing on the correlation between CO2 and temperature.
  • By the end of the lesson, students should be able to identify patterns and understand the significance of historical climate data.

Materials: 

  • Predictions worksheet
  • Keeling Cureve worksheet
  • Presentation and notes

Preparation: 

  • Teachers should be familiar with the lesson, presentation and notes
  • Handouts should be printed ahead of time

Lesson Plan

  • Pose the question: "How can we know about the history of the climate?" 
  • Elicit responses, guiding students to two main answers: 
    • Direct measurements (current temperature, atmospheric gases, etc.) 
    • Indirect evidence from times before human record-keeping (chemical and structural signatures in rocks, fossils, crystals, ocean sediments, tree rings, fossilized reefs, etc.)

  • Divide the class into small groups and provide each group with historical temperature data (800,000 yrs.). This data should stop just before the Industrial Revolution.
  • Instruct students to discuss patterns they observe in the data.
  • Each group should formulate three statements about the data they're examining.
  • Each group should formulate three "How/Why" questions about the data they're examining.

Predicting CO2 Levels: 

  • Based on the temperature data, each group should make a prediction about what CO2 levels might look like over the same period.
  • They should sketch their prediction directly onto the temperature graph.

Ice Core Video: 

  • Show a video about ice core samples, explaining how they provide a record of past CO2 levels. Video is also available in additional resources.

Comparing Predictions with Actual CO2 Data: 

  • Distribute the actual CO2 data from ice core samples to each group.
  • Students should compare their predictions with the actual data, noting similarities and differences.

Introduce the Keeling Curve 

  • Video and PowerPoint. Video is also available in additional resources.
  • Show students data from the Keeling Curve and as a class, discuss what this data means for the climate based on the historical data.
  • Discuss the causation of increased CO2 - the Industrial Revolution and the burning of fossil fuels, as well as cutting down forests.

Distribute the worksheet to the students. 

  • Allow students a couple of minutes to jot down their answers (10 mins)

  • Ask a few groups to share their observations and answers. Use this as an opportunity to informally assess learning and address any common misconceptions about the information as needed. 
  • Highlight the importance of the Keeling Curve as evidence of human influence on atmospheric CO2 levels and, by extension, climate change.

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Lessons
Introduction to Climate Change in Cayman Teacher Starter Pack CC1. What do we mean when we say "The climate is changing?" CC2. What is causing the climate to change? CC3. What is the History of the Earth's climate and how do we know? CC4. How is climate change putting Cayman at risk now? CC5. How is climate change putting Cayman's future at risk?
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