Earth Systems

Standard V, Objective 1

Title: Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Description: This is a good introductory activity to carbon emissions. It shows students the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by different areas of the world. It also has them brainstorm ways we can reduce the amount of carbon we use everyday.

Materials: 30 black balloons (if you have a small room, get small balloons), any objects you want to use as props for each country, student sheets, calculators.

Time needed: 30 minutes

Procedures:

  1. Inflate all 30 balloons ahead of time and keep them hidden away from students until it is time to use them. Designate an area of the room for each continent being used (Africa, Europe, Central and South America, North America, and Asia) and set up props to represent each one (flags, travel posters, artifacts, etc.).
  2. Hand out student sheets. Read through the introduction with the students. Discuss with the students the difference between industrial emissions and the photosynthesis/respiration cycle. Discuss with students whether or not different lifestyles would result in the use of more carbon dioxide.
  3. Have the students stand up and go to the area of the world they think has the highest population. Now have students go to the area of the world they think has the lowest population. Next have students go to the area of the world they think emits the most carbon dioxide. Then have them go to the area of the world they think emits the least carbon dioxide. Have all but 19 students return to their seats.
  4. With the 19 remaining students, send them to the following areas of the world: Africa-3 people, Europe-2, Central & South America-2, Asia- 11, North America-1.
  5. Tell the students that the black balloons demonstrate the amount of carbon emissions from each area of the world. Distribute the balloons as follows: Africa- 1 balloon, Europe- 8, North America- 8, Central & South America- 2, Asia- 11.
  6. Collect the balloons and have students go back to their seats. Have students answer their questions.

Scoring Guide:

  1. Students participate in demonstration………………………….. 4
  2. Students complete the data table……………………………….. 4
  3. Students complete the analysis and conclustion…………….... 4

Answers to Questions:

Data table:

Area of World / # of people out of 19 / % of population (# of people out of 19 divided by 19. Then multiply by 100) / # of Balloons / % of Total Carbon Emissions (# of balloons divided by 30. Then multiply by 100)
Africa / 3 / 15.8 / 1 / 3.3
Europe / 2 / 10.5 / 8 / 26.7
Central & South America / 2 / 10.5 / 2 / 6.7
Asia / 11 / 57.9 / 11 / 36.7
North America / 1 / 5.3 / 8 / 26.7
  1. Asia
  2. North America
  3. Asia
  4. 5.3%
  5. 26.7%, Yes
  6. The amount of carbon in the air would increase even faster and the levels of air pollution would sky rocket.
  7. Opinion
  8. Transportation, Food, and household operations.
  9. Answers will vary: Car pool, take public transportation, find alternative energy sources, walk, bike, combine needed trips (stop at store on the way home instead of going out again), etc.
  10. Turn off lights when not in use, unplug appliances not being used, use fluorescent light bulbs, use landscape to help reduce energy costs, etc.
  11. Buy food grown and manufactured locally, plant a garden, buy organic, recycle packaging, use reusable shopping bags, etc.

Student Sheet

Name______Period______

Title: Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Introduction: Many of the things we do increase the emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Whenever we burn fossil fuels to drive our car, heat our homes, make hot water, or provide the electricity used by our television or other electrical devices, we take carbon that was previously locked out of today's carbon cycle and inject it into the atmosphere. Other industrial activities, such as manufacturing cement, emit significant amounts of carbon dioxide. This exercise illustrates the different amounts of carbon dioxide emission made by citizens in different areas of the world.

Procedures:

  1. When instructed to you will go to different areas of the world that you think have high and low populations and high and low carbon emission levels.
  2. Watch as students are distributed to areas by population and given balloons to represent carbon emissions.
  3. Record how many students are in each area of the world and how many balloons they have on your data table.
  4. Calculate the percentage of population and percentage of total carbon emissions using a calculator. Record them on your data table.
  5. Answer your analysis questions.

Data:

Area of World / # of people out of 19 / % of population (# of people out of 19 divided by 19) / # of Balloons / % of Total Carbon Emissions (# of balloons divided by 30)
Africa
Europe
Central & South America
Asia
North America

Analysis:

1)Which area of the world has the largest human population?

2)Which area of the world has the least human population?

3)Which area of the world produces the most Carbon dioxide?

4)What percent of the world’s population does North America make up?

5)What percent of the world’s carbon emissions does North America make up? Is that a lot for the population size?

6)What would be the effect of everyone in Asia living like a North American?

7)Is it fair for North Americans to live a lifestyle of excess and expect other countries not to? Why or why not?

Read the exert below and use it to answer questions 7-11.

There are three different kinds of activities that account for most of our environmental impacts as consumers. These are transportation, food, and household operations (heating, cooling, lighting, cleaning, etc.) These three activities account for about 75% of our consumer impacts on global warming, air pollution, water pollution, and alteration of habitat. Transportation account for 32% of our impact on global warming and 51% of our toxic air pollution.

8)What are the three activities that account for most of our global impact as consumers?

9)Come up with five ways to reduce the pollution and carbon dioxide released by transportation.

10)Come up with three ways to reduce the use of fossil fuels in your home.

11) List two ways to reduce pollution and environmental impact through food? (Think hard about his one, where do you get your food, how it is made, etc.).

Conclusion: Do you think enough people would be willing to make these changes in North America to help bring the carbon cycle back in to balance? Why or why not?