Climate Science Videos
With Lesson Plans and Links
Episode 1 - Carbon Dioxide Is a Greenhouse Gas [8:32]
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This visual dictionary explains the basic vocabulary words viewers need to understand the video series. It's a good way to make sure everyone is on the same page, including definitions of greenhouse gases, weather vs climate, etc.
Episode 2 - Cellular Respiration and the Fast Carbon Cycle) [8:43]
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We exhale 100 x more CO2 than we inhale. That doesn't create climate change but discovering the source of that carbon gives us insight into the carbon cycle and burning questions like, "Where does fat go when we lose it?" and "What are carbs anyway?"
Click here for lesson plans: Episode 2 - Fast Carbon Cycle.
Click here for cabbage juice demo instructions.
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Episode 5 - Carbon from Crude Oil Fuels [9:01]
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Crude oil started out as plankton in ancient oceans. After refining it, we use the gasoline to fuel our cars, ships, and airplanes. Thanks to Joe Kaufman for a great model of how internal combustion engines work in his book, What Makes It Go?
Click here for lesson plans: Episode 5 - Gasoline and Transportation.
Click here for "Powerful Piston" demo information.
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Episode 4 - Carbon from Coal-Fired Power Plants [8:07]
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After a quick look at coal formation and a zip through the Industrial Revolution, viewers learn how burning coal can generate electricity that lights up the night. I make a very simple DIY generator.
Click here for lesson plans: Episode 4 - Coal.
Click here for DIY generator demo instructions.
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NGSS: MS-PS2-3 (build DIY generator to test it) MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS3-4
Episode 3 - Carbon from Campfires [7:06]
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Wood fires produce carbon dioxide because cellulose (and other big molecules that make up wood) are carbon based. Those molecules can produce carbon dioxide in three different ways: digestion, decomposition, and combustion.​
Click here for lesson plans for Episode 3 - Campfires.
Click here for burning wood demo information.
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Episode 6 - Carbon from Natural Gas (Methane) [10:14]
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Natural gas is mostly made of methane, CH4. I discuss fracking to collect natural gas from shale. We burn gas for heat in homes, industry and electricity generation. Methane in our atmosphere is a powerful greenhouse gas that we must control.
CARBON SINKS VIDEOS (where carbon is stored)
with Lesson Plans and Links
Carbon Sinks - Photosynthesis and Trees (9:38)
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@STEMwithCog explores where trees get their mass and why we say it comes from thin air. Cog explores photosynthesis and how makes sugars for the cell. Those sugars are used as an energy source or broken down with oxygen to make the tree ​
Click here for lesson plans: Episode 8 - Photosynthsis and Tree measurement.
Click here for lesson plans from KitchenClimateScience with USFS tree graphs.
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Episode 7 - Carbon from Volcanoes [8:37]
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Volcanoes can change the weather, globally and for several years. But how much carbon dioxide do they emit compared to our anthropogenic (man-made) carbon dioxide output?
Click here for lesson plans: Episode 7 - Volcanoes.
Click here for carbon dioxide dissolved in gas experiment instructions.
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@STEMwithCog explores oceans, how they absorb excess carbon and move it up the marine food pyramid until it decomposes or is buried. Limiting factors like iron control populations. Watch demos of CO2 absorption and heat absorption. Learn about ocean currents, weather, and climate.​
Click here for lesson plans: Episode 9 - Oceans and Climate.
Click here for more info on the carbon dioxide absorption experiment.
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NGSS: MS-PS1-2, MS-LS2-1, MS-LS1-6, MS-LS2-3, MS-LS2-4, MS-ESS2-5, MS-ESS3-4
Carbon Sinks - The Slow Carbon Cycle (9:45)
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@STEMwithCog explores how some marine organisms can extract calcium and carbonate from ocean water, forming calcium carbonate shells. These shells can become rock that is chemically weathered to release CO2, which can be absorbed by oceans, starting the cycle again.
Click here for lesson plans: Episode 10 - Carbon Sinks.
Click here for more info on calcium carbonate experiment.
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NGSS: MS-PS1-1, MS-PS1-2, MS-LS2-1, MS-LS2-3, MS-LS2-4, MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS3-4