Lesson 2: Pollution and Greenhouse Gasses

What are the main types and sources of pollution in air, water, and land?

How do greenhouse gases affect Earth’s climate?

What evidence shows that human activities contribute to global warming?

How can we analyze patterns in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions?

How do local actions contribute to global climate change?

Pollution (air, water, land)

Greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O)

Carbon footprint

Global warming

Climate change

Emissions

Mitigation

• HS-ESS3-1 – Evaluate the use of natural resources and the effects of human activities on Earth systems.
• HS-ESS3-4 – Analyze data to understand the causes and consequences of climate change.

Students will practice analyzing real-world environmental data, including carbon emissions, pollution levels, and climate trends.

Students will develop literacy and analytical skills by reading and interpreting graphs, charts, and case studies related to pollution and greenhouse gases.

Students will make evidence-based explanations linking human activities to changes in Earth’s systems.

NGSS Crosscutting Concepts:

Cause and Effect

Patterns

Systems and System Models

Stability and Change

Students will investigate the causes and effects of pollution and greenhouse gases on Earth’s systems. They will analyze data to identify patterns and understand how human activities contribute to global warming and climate change.

Hands-on activities may include measuring local pollution levels, tracking CO2 emissions, or creating models to simulate the greenhouse effect. Students will connect observed patterns to scientific concepts and develop explanations for environmental changes.

The lesson purpose is to help students recognize the links between human behavior and environmental outcomes, and to use data to support claims about cause and effect in Earth systems.

Pollution and greenhouse gases affect communities globally and locally. Students may relate to air quality issues in cities, water contamination in nearby rivers, or climate change impacts in their region. Understanding these issues empowers students to make informed choices about energy use, transportation, and waste management.

Students may think climate change occurs naturally without human influence.

Students may confuse pollution with climate change, or global warming with weather.

Students may believe that individual actions do not contribute meaningfully to environmental problems.

Students may have difficulty connecting abstract data, such as emission graphs, to real-world impacts.

Tiered Assignments, Scaffolded Instruction

Graphic Organizers for analyzing emissions and pollution data

Technology Integration (carbon footprint calculators, interactive climate models)

Clear instructions and rubrics for labs or project work

Peer collaboration for discussion and problem-solving

Access to charts, calculators, and online data tools

• Checkpoints during labs and data analysis exercises

• Quizzes on key vocabulary and concepts

• Unit Test

• Evaluation of pollution or greenhouse gas modeling labs

• Constructed-response assignments using data to explain environmental impacts

• Slides and worksheets on pollution and greenhouse gases

• Carbon footprint calculators or apps

• Local air, water, and land quality data

• Materials for simple greenhouse effect demonstrations (clear containers, heat lamps, thermometers, CO2 sources)

• Case studies, videos, or articles on human-induced climate change