WEBQUEST

Global Warming - Teacher's Section

Teacher Introduction

Global warming has become one of the most pressing issues facing the United States and the world. The following webquest, based on the Koshland Science Museum’s exhibit Global Warming: Facts and Our Future, was designed primarily to introduce high school and middle school students to the complicated issues surrounding global warming and climate change. Through participating in a fictitious scenario, students will take an active role in determining how and why climate is changing and how humans may have contributed to these changes. Students become climate scientists, policy analysts, economists, energy experts, and urban planners as they learn about climate science, environmental impacts, policy initiatives, and renewable energy choices. Upon completion of their individual tasks, student teams present their findings and make recommendations that address the situation.

How To Use This Activity: Ideally, the webquest should be used in preparation for visits to the Koshland Science Museum or for extended learning afterward. However, the activity can also be completed online. The webquest will introduce students to the concepts of global warming, climate change, and sustainable energy sources.

In the classroom, this webquest activity can be used in many different ways To encourage cooperative learning, students should be divided up into groups of five and each student in the group should assume the role of one of the climate action team members. Working in a group allows students to experience the way a real-world investigative team operates. Alternatively, students can complete the webquest individually and investigate all five roles by themselves. Either way, students should be required to share their findings with the class by creating a presentation using multimedia whenever possible.

This webquest is designed to take approximately one week. To shorten the activity, students could complete only the group work section, which should take one class period.

You can find more information about the webquest in the following sections

Flowchart and worksheets - Graphical flowchart of student activities and corresponding worksheets.
Science Education Standards - The National Science Education Standards relevant to this activity.
Evaluation - Rubric for evaluating student acheivement
Suggested Websites and Resources