Introduction to Air Quality and the Greenhouse Effect
Engage students with the problem through simple introductory activities:
- The greenhouse effect is essential for life on Earth. As a starting point, ask your students to investigate why. After this, challenge them with the question “So why do greenhouse gas emissions harm ecosystems and our health?” There are plenty of resources online, such as videos, podcasts, and interactive digital laboratories, (among others) that they can use to explore such questions.
- Engage your Students in a greenhouse effect experiment and record and discuss their results. Alternatively, students can use online laboratories, however, be sure to guide them through a similar inquiry-based approach. If the experiments have been carried out correctly, students should conclude that if the Earth system is comparable to that of the experiments, poor air quality related to excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can lead to global warming.
Exploring the Greenhouse Effect Through Inquiry-Based Experiments.
Illustration of students engaging in hands-on investigation of the greenhouse effect using a classroom
experiment with a closed glass jar, recorded observations, and digital tools. The scene highlights inquiry,
critical thinking, and the importance of understanding how excess greenhouse gases impact ecosystems
and human health.
Credits: Custom educational illustration created for the course
Air Quality Exploration: Understanding the Invisible World We Breathe, generated by an AI model..
Challenge your students to compile examples of evidence of real and predicted impacts of poor air quality on climate change and human health, for example through literature research, the internet, or other resources. Make sure they use reliable sources such as Our World in Data, where they investigate global trends.