Download an inconvenient truth

TEACHER NOTES:
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH!
Intended learning outcome:
1) Students will gain a holistic understanding of climate change as an issue on a global level.
New terms: Climate Change
Ice Core
El Nino
Tundra
Climate Indicators
2) Students will gain an understanding of the impact climate changes will have on environmental and social
sustainability. This means an understanding of key concepts such as: melting glacier and ice caps, sea level rise,
environmental refugees, climatic hazards such as hurricanes, world populations, and global ocean currents.
3) Students will use a documentary to answer questions, discuss points, debate ideas and complete essay tasks.
ACTIVITY ONE:
Students to view “The Inconvenient Truth” documentary starring Al Gore. Students fill in
the worksheet (teacher notes and answers attached).
It is recommended that you stop this video and allow students to ask questions, discuss
their ideas, comments and complete tasks on the worksheet. The documentary is divided
into 32 chapters. Note: There is a photocopy friendly version of the worksheet.
ACTIVITY TWO:
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AFTER THE FILM…
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Should the atmosphere have the right to be protected?
Al Gore seems frustrated with politicians. Why?
When Al Gore’s son had an accident it made him think about the big picture…. What
does that actually mean?
Should we listen more to scientists? Do they have enough influence in our lives or
should they have more?
What is procrastination? How does it relate to this issue?
Al Gore calls Antarctica and the Arctic canary’s in coal mines. What does that actually
mean?
Global warming can cause ice ages. Is this statement true?
China is increasing it’s carbon emissions rapidly. Do we have the right to try and stop
them?
Does America (the largest greenhouse gas producer) have an obligation to help small pacific
islands that may disappear with sea level rise? Why? Why not?
Why would people rather this be a ‘theory’ instead of fact?
Why is Al Gore traveling the world giving talks? Do you think this will make a difference?
“If you want to save the world make a movie” – how true is this statement?
ACTIVITY THREE: Essay…
Possible Essay topic…
Links to the curriculum
People’s management of resources impacts on environmental and social
sustainability…
The Essay could have 3 parts:
1) What are the resources that we use that could contribute to climate change.
These could include:
- Energy
- Transport
- Forestry / Wood
- Industry
2) In the last 100 years, how has the way we have used these resources caused
environmental problems and concerns for people.
Students could discuss:
- Glaciers and Ice Caps
- Species such as coral reefs and polar bears
- Pacific Island communities
- Communities living in tundra / permafrost
- People affected by natural disasters
3) How can people and governments manage these resources in the future to ensure social and
environmental sustainability.
This means that environments and communities will be available for future generations to use and enjoy. Students
could discuss the many ways greenhouse gas emissions being reduced…
- Cars
- Energy consumption
- Reducing deforestation / replanting
- Recycling… etc.
NEW KEY TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
Carbon Sink The natural and cultural way of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Important
sinks are rainforests as growing trees absorb carbon and oceans.
Climate Change the change in average conditions of the atmosphere near the earth's surface over a long
period of time.
El Niño It refers to the extensive warming of the central and eastern Pacific that leads to a major shift in
weather patterns across the Pacific. In Australia, and more so for eastern Australia, El Niño events are
associated with an increased probability of drier conditions.
Ozone – The ozone layer absorbs harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitted from the Sun. Some
breakdown of the Ozone layer can be expected to continue due to CFCs used by nations which have not
banned them, and due to gases which are already in the stratosphere. CFCs have very long atmospheric
lifetimes, ranging from 50 to over 100 years, so the final recovery of the ozone layer is expected to require
several lifetimes.
TEACHER ANSWERS
Gaining an understanding….
1) Who is the star of this Movie? Al Gore (chapter one)
2) What is the REAL point Al Gore is trying to make to his audience when talking about continental drift?
That some scientific ideas are not always accepted even if they are correct (chapter 2)
3) Draw a very quick summary diagram of how some solar radiation is trapped by the earths atmosphere
Ensure you have:
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The earth
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The sun
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The atmosphere
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Greenhouse gases
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Solar radiation (chapter 3)
4) What is the best way to show students global warming - the first diagram or the cartoon? Explain why..
Students personal answers required. Ideally students to identify that the first
diagram is more scientific and correct although the cartoon gets the message
across in an effective way. (chapter 4)
5) CO2 levels vary each year.
What season is CO2 at its highest? Spring / Summer
What season is CO2 at it’s lowest? Autumn / Winter (chapter 6)
6) Glaciers have been retreating dramatically over the last 100 years. True or False?
Glaciers are only retreating in certain regions around the world. True or False?
7) What can ice cores tell us? The historic concentrations of greenhouse gases eg CO2
(chapter 8)
8) In the table provided draw a summary of the CO2 levels and global temperatures over the last 650,000
years. Label each line. (chapter 9)
10) What will happen to the temperature if CO2 rises even further in the next century?
Temperatures will increases, possibly dramatically. (chapter 11)
The impact of climate change…
11) When have the 10 hottest years occurred since temperatures were measured? Last 15 years
12) How hot did it get in India in 2003? 50 °C (chapter 11)
13) What is happening to ocean temperatures? Temperatures are increasing (chapter 11)
14) Hurricane Katrina was a category 5
tropical storm.
State 5 impacts for people living in New
Orleans?
15) What other natural hazards are
linked to global warming?
Flooding housing
Storms
Loss of possessions
Landslides
Roads and transport blocked
Drought
People forced to leave homes
(chapter 13)
Flooding
Other egs (Chapter 12)
16) What has happened to Lake Chad? Has dried up and reduced in size
17) The Arctic is a land of ice. Give 2 examples of how this region has been
affected…
a) Tundra thawing housing damaged
b) Trees dying, etc (chapter 16)
18) “Arctic ice caps act like a mirror”. What does this mean? Use a diagram if needed.
The ice reflects more of the radiation back into the atmosphere– over 80% this stops
the ice caps melting, they do not absorb the heat energy (chapter 16).
19) How have Polar Bears been affected?
Struggle to swim back to mainland means possible drowning.
Poles highest
increases
20) The distribution of temperature increase is uneven.
Using the globe show where the highest and lowest
increases will occur…
21) What other indicators are their that tell us the climate is
changing:
Equator lowest
increases
List five indicators below:
Bird breeding seasons
Trees dying
Diseases spreading
etc (chapter 19)
Number of frosts
Mosquito’s living in higher altitudes
Coral reef bleaching and species extinction etc
22) Antarctica is the largest mass of ice on the planet. What is happening to Larsen B? Melting very
quickly – sea ice melts and so too has land ice. (chapter 20)
23) What will happen globally if Antarctica’s ice sheets melt? Sea level could rise 20 ft (chpter 21)
24) How will people be affected if sea levels rise? Coastal communities will be under water.
Environmental refugees will be created such as those on pacific islands or in
Bangladesh, cities will be flooded including parts of Manhattan.
25) Population is increasing.
Draw a graph to show how population has grown over the last 1000 years.
Source: http://www.theoildrum.com/uploads/12/LongTermPopulation.gif
What was the world’s
population in:
(Chapter 23)
1945 = 2.3 billion
2005 = 6.4 billion
2050? = 9 billion
26) Who is the biggest contributor of greenhouse gases? USA (chapter 24)
27) What % does Australasia contribute to greenhouse gases? 1.1 %
28) Have scientists denied global warming is happening? Circle one: Yes
No
Some
What does Al Gore imply / suggest about Politian’s attitude to global warming? It’s too difficult to
sort out and therefore do not want scientific evidence to be made public. Want to
delay action for as long as possible as it is perceived as not good for the country or
economy to address it. (chapter 26/27)
The solutions to climate change…
29) How many times has Al Gore given his presentation? Over 1000 times (Chapter 29)
30) List 4 ways we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions:
Effective energy appliances
Renewables and recycling
milage saving transport
etc etc (chapter 30)