There are several processes that contribute to global warming by releasing greenhouse gases, such as methane, water vapor, and carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. Processes like burning, also known as combustion, and deforestation contribute to global warming as they cause an increase of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In this activity, students will create a spider map that describes and illustrates several of these processes.
There are also natural processes that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere such as respiration, decomposition, and volcanic eruptions. As an extension, have your students complete this activity again just using natural processes that contribute to the greenhouse effect.
This could be used as a stimulus for discussion on how we as a planet can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we release into the atmosphere.
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Student Instructions
Describe and illustrate processes that contribute to global warming.
Engaging students in a debate helps deepen understanding and critical thinking about real-world solutions to global warming.
Select a focused question such as ‘Which solution can most effectively reduce greenhouse gases?’ Assign teams to research and argue different positions for a balanced discussion.
Outline debate rules, time limits, and respectful discussion expectations. Allow students time to gather facts and prepare evidence-based arguments.
Act as a facilitator to keep the debate on track, ensuring all voices are heard and students support their points with evidence.
Guide students in reflecting on what they learned and how perspectives changed. Highlight main arguments and encourage personal action steps for real-world impact.
Global warming is mainly caused by processes that release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor into the atmosphere. Key contributors include burning fossil fuels (combustion), deforestation, respiration, decomposition, and volcanic eruptions.
To teach students about global warming causes, have them create a spider map where they identify four processes (like combustion, deforestation, respiration, and decomposition), describe each, and illustrate their effects using scenes and items. This visual activity helps students connect ideas and understand complex processes easily.
Natural processes such as respiration, decomposition, and volcanic eruptions release greenhouse gases naturally. Human-caused processes like burning fossil fuels and deforestation add extra greenhouse gases, increasing the greenhouse effect and accelerating global warming.
The major greenhouse gases responsible for global warming are carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and water vapor. Of these, carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels and deforestation is the largest contributor.
Easy classroom activities include creating spider maps to visualize processes, group discussions on reducing greenhouse gases, role-playing scenarios, and simple experiments showing the greenhouse effect. These activities engage students and make the science behind global warming more relatable.