Methane and Climate Change
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Provided by: MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative|Published on: January 17, 2024
Lesson PlansScientist Reviewed
9101112AP
Scientist Reviewed 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 lesson plan describes the powerful greenhouse effect of methane, details its natural and human-generated sources, and discusses solutions to address these emissions.
- Students will listen to a podcast, complete a jigsaw activity using a reading about methane sources, and compare and contrast two articles about tracking fugitive methane emissions.
Subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Mathematics
Authors: MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The guide provides all materials required to teach the lesson, including student pages, so there is minimal prep for teachers.
- Students have numerous opportunities to practice reading and analyzing graphs, charts, and infographics.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should already have a basic understanding of the greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases, and how this contributes to climate change.
Differentiation
- The lesson includes multiple chances for students to work with partners or small groups. Teachers can intentionally group students by ability level to better facilitate support.
- English Language Arts classes can use these activities to practice reading comprehension of scientific texts and comparing and contrasting nonfiction articles.
- Cross-curricular connections can be made with chemistry and physical science classes by further discussing the structure and properties of methane that contribute to its heat-trapping ability.
While there are reasonably differing estimates in the comparison of methane to carbon dioxide, it is decidedly a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Limiting its release into the atmosphere is vital to curbing global warming. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
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Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative
Founded in 2014, the Environmental Solutions Initiative (ESI) is MIT’s institute-wide effort to mobilize the substantial scientific, engineering, policy, and design capacity of the MIT community to contribute to addressing climate change and other environmental challenges of global import. ESI pursues multidisciplinary research, education, events, and partnerships to help move society toward an environmentally and socially sustainable future. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts on MIT’s main campus, ESI is powered by a lean staff working closely with students and faculty across the full spectrum of disciplines. Led by architecture professor John E. Fernandez, a leading scholar in the emerging field of urban metabolism, ESI is advised by students, faculty, alumni, and thought leaders from many sectors of society.
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.
Learn about our review process →
