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GREEN NINJA
TEACHER SUPPORT MATERIALS
NAME OF GREEN NINJA VIDEO: Burrito Gases
MAIN TOPIC OF VIDEO: Greenhouse emissions associated with food choices
Click HERE to watch the episode! (Link)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Frame:
1. The burrito “gas” that is referenced in the video is called “greenhouse gas.” What
are greenhouse gases?
2. What do greenhouse gases have to do with climate change?
3. What are fossil fuels and how are they connected to climate change?
Focus:
1. Dr. Burrito said that on a burrito farm, there are three types of gases emitted. What
are they and what causes them to be released?
2. The food gas meter measures the amount of greenhouse gases released at each
type of burrito farm. Keep track of the emission level by filling in the chart with “low,”
“medium,” and “high.”
carbon dioxide
CO2
methane
CH4
nitrous oxide
N2O
veggie burrito
farm
chicken burrito
farm
beef burrito farm
3. Which burrito farm has the least environmental impact? Which has the most
environmental impact?
Follow-up:
1. Describe a typical dinner-time meal at your household. Which foods are included in
your meal and how do you think they rank in greenhouse gas emissions?
2. Peruse the information from the following webpages to see why many meat
products are associated with higher greenhouse gas emissions. Explain the
reasoning in your own words and list at least three factors that causes this.
http://www.greenninja.org/energyefficientfood.html
http://www.greenninja.org/foodmiles.html
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/986252/lamb_beef_and_c
heese_have_largest_food_footprint.html
http://www.ewg.org/meateatersguide/frequently-asked-questions/
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GREEN NINJA
TEACHER SUPPORT MATERIALS
3. Looking back at your answer to #1, how might you alter a typical dinner-time meal
at your household to reduce your carbon footprint?
ANSWERS TO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Frame:
1. The burrito “gas” that is referenced in the video is called “greenhouse gas.” What
are greenhouse gases?
Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere that is capable of absorbing
infrared radiation, which traps heat in the atmosphere (greenhouse effect).
2. What do greenhouse gases have to do with climate change?
Because greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, it is responsible for the
overall global temperature rise (climate change).
3. What are fossil fuels and how are they connected to climate change?
Fossil fuels include coal, natural gas, and oil, and are important energy sources.
They need to be burned in order to become usable energy for various human
needs. However, the burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases.
Focus:
1. Dr. Burrito said that on a burrito farm, there are three types of gases emitted. What
are they and what caused them to be released?
Nitrous oxide is emitted from the use of commercial fertilizers, methane is released
when farm animals burp and pass gas, and carbon dioxide comes from burning of
fossil fuels by farm equipment and vehicles during farm transportation.
2. The food gas meter measures the amount of greenhouse gases released at each
type of burrito farm. Keep track of the emission level by filling in the chart with “low,”
“medium,” and “high.”
carbon dioxide
methane
nitrous oxide
CO2
CH4
N2O
veggie burrito
low
low
low
farm
chicken burrito
medium-high
low
low-medium
farm
beef burrito farm
high
high
high
3. Which burrito farm has the least environmental impact? Which has the most
environmental impact?
The veggie burrito farm causes the least greenhouse gas emissions and the beef
burrito farm causes the most greenhouse gas emissions.
Follow-up:
www.greenninja.org
GREEN NINJA
TEACHER SUPPORT MATERIALS
1. Describe a typical dinner-time meal at your household. Which foods are included in
your meal and how do you think they rank in greenhouse gas emissions?
Answers may vary, but in general meat products are associated with a lot more
greenhouse gas emissions than plant products. See the chart on this webpage as a
reference:
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/986252/lamb_beef_and_c
heese_have_largest_food_footprint.html
2. Peruse the information from the following webpages to see why many meat
products are associated with higher greenhouse gas emissions. Explain the
reasoning in your own words and list at least three factors that causes this.
http://www.greenninja.org/energyefficientfood.html
http://www.greenninja.org/foodmiles.html
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/986252/lamb_beef_and_cheese_
have_largest_food_footprint.html
http://www.ewg.org/meateatersguide/frequently-asked-questions/
Answers may vary, but three top factors are listed here:
http://www.ewg.org/meateatersguide/frequently-asked-questions/#question_2
3. Looking back at your answer to #1, how might you alter a typical dinner-time meal
at your household to reduce your carbon footprint?
Answers may vary, but should mention less consumption of meat products,
especially beef and lamb.
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND RESOURCES
“Engaging Students through Global Issues” from Facing the Future
http://www.facingthefuture.org/Curriculum/BuyCurriculum/tabid/550/ProductID/6/Default.as
px
 Lesson 12: Watch Where You Step!
Learn how to reduce your carbon "foodprint" at:
 http://www.eatlowcarbon.org
Scientific fact and culinary art. Check out the book:
 Cool Cuisine: Taking The Bite Out of Global Warming by Laura Stec and Eugene
Cordero
www.greenninja.org
GREEN NINJA
TEACHER SUPPORT MATERIALS
Credit: This teacher resource has been adapted from content originally developed by
Hannah Sun.
www.greenninja.org