Introduction

Global Greenhouse Group (GGG), a non-profit environmental protection organization, needs your help in promoting awareness of global warming to the public. You will have to study the causes, effects and solutions on global warming. Your investigation will be considered as suggestions for GGG in formulating future public education plan.

NETS

1. Identify a complex global issue, develop a systematic plan of investigation, and present innovative sustainable solutions. (1,2,3,4)
2. Create media-rich presentations for other students on the appropriate and ethical use of digital tools and resources. (1,5)

You will need to explore the web to answer the following questions:

1. What are the causes of global warming?
2. How does it affect the environment?
3. How does it affect human life?
4. What can we do to minimize its influences?
5. How is global climate monitored?
   

1. First, you will be assigned to a team of 4 students. Each participant will take on one of the following roles:
   

   The Mathematician: You will have to pick at least ten cities from different parts of the world, then plot a graph using the recent ten years temperature data. You can use Microsoft Excel to help you. Make a trend line on your graph with the equation written. Then, predict the temperatures of the cities and the world after 10 years, 50 years and 100 years using the equation.	The Scientist: You will have to prepare a report on global warming that will be published in a scientific journal. First, study the causes and effects of global warming. Then, based on your findings, suggest some solutions to minimize the global warming effects.
   The Reporter: You will have to prepare a news article on global warming for the Los Angeles Times. First, identify news that are related to the effects of global warming from newspaper clippings or news sources online. Then, study the methods used in monitoring global climate. Finally, educate the readers on how to minimize the global warming influences.	The Politician: You will have to be the lobbyists for more environmental laws on global warming. First, evaluate the existing laws on global warming in the United States. Then, draft other laws that can be enacted to minimize the global warming influences.

2. Individually, you will examine the internet sites for your role. You may jot down some notes on a sheet of paper or using Microsoft Word. Remember your group will need to gather all the information and create a PowerPoint presentation.




    Here is the site for everyone:


• Everything about Global Warming

   
    Here are the sites and suggested steps for the Mathematician:


• Temperature data
• Enter the city name and click search, or click on the map if you know the approximate location of the city.
• Select the station name.
• Click the link, monthly data as text, which is at the bottom.
• Pick a ten year period, such as January of 1997 to January 2007.
• Use Microsoft Excel to plot a graph with the ten years temperature data.
• Add the trend line and its equation.
  • Excel 2003
  • Excel 2007
• Learn the basics about mean and standard deviation.
• Predict the Global temperature after 10 years, 50 years, and 100 years based on the temperature predictions of the cities. State the standard deviations on your predictions.


    Here are the sites for the Scientist:


• Global Warming
  
• Is It Happening?
  
• What's Going to Happen?
• Health and Environmental Effects
  
• Effects
• Climate Change Solution #1: Make Better Cars and SUV's
  
• Climate Change Solution #2: Modernize America's Electricity System
• Climate Change Solution #3: Increase Energy Efficiency
• Climate Change Solution #4: Protect Threatened Forests
• Climate Change Solution #5: Support American Ingenuity
  


    Here are the sites for the Reporter:


• 94-degree heat breaks 95-year-old record for downtown Los Angeles
• 23 feared killed in Indian heat wave
• Deadliest-ever Aussie wildfires
• Ice Bridge Supporting Wilkins Ice Shelf Collapses
• The New York Times
• YAHOO! News
• Satellite Images to Monitor Global Climate Change Data
  


    Here are the sites for the Politician:


• California's Vehicle Global Warming Law
• U.S. Climate Policy and Actions
• Kyoto Protocol
• Congress considers major global warming measure
• More on Global Warming Laws





3. When you finished exploring the websites, your group will sit together and present each one's findings to the whole group. Next, your group will discuss the solutions and the laws that can be enacted to minimize the effects of global warming. Then, you all will need to think of some little changes that we can do in our daily life to help reduce the influences.
   


4. Your group will present all the findings and information by using Microsoft PowerPoint. This presentation is used to help GGG in promoting public awareness, so you must emphasis on the effects and solutions of global warming. You can use a flowchart to present the causes and effects.
   
   Here are the information that must be included in your PowerPoint:
   
   • Cover page with the title, Global Warming, and all the group member names.
   • Definition of global warming.
   • The causes and effects of global warming.
   • The graph of the ten years temperatures of the chosen cities from different parts of the world.
   • The forecasted temperatures of the cities after 10 years, 50 years and 100 years.
   • The forecasted temperatures and standard deviations of the world after 10 years, 50 years and 100 years.
   • News stories on global warming from newspaper clippings or printouts of online news articles.
   • Solutions and new laws which can be enacted to minimize the influences.
   • Little changes that we all can do in our daily life.

Your powerpoint will be evaluated by the areas mentioned in the following rubric. Please click on the link below to view the rubric.

• Rubric for evaluating the Global Warming Powerpoint

Now, you have a better understanding on global warming. You may want to explore more on the global climate change. Here are some questions that you may think about:

• How long will summer Arctic sea ice survive?
• How much will sea level rise as ice sheets melt?
• Are hurricanes getting more intense?
• Are heat waves becoming more frequent?