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NASA Climate Kids Web Quest
Helpful vocabulary terms:
weather – the state of the atmosphere (hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy) on a short term
basis
climate – weather conditions in an area in general over a long period of time
climate change – the observed rise in the average temperature of the Earth’s climate system and its related
effects
global warming – an outdated term. We now refer to the observed rise in the average temperature of the
Earth’s climate system as global climate change
fossil fuel – organic materials made from decayed plants and animals that have turned into crude oil, coal, and
natural gas by millions of years of heat and pressure. Fossil fuels are burned by humans to produce heat and
energy
greenhouse gas – gases in the atmosphere that trap heat from the sun and keep the Earth warm. Examples of
greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide
carbon footprint – the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organization, event, product, or individual
Warm Up: Watch “Climate Change (According to a Kid). Answer the following questions and be ready to
discuss your answers with the class.
1. What kinds of natural climate changes happen on Earth?
2. What do greenhouse gases do?
3. How do humans cause unnatural climate change on Earth?
4. Climate change doesn’t just mean the Earth is getting warmer. What other things can happen when
the climate changes?
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Use Chrome. Visit climatekids.nasa.gov and click on “Guided Tour of the Big Questions” in the top left box.
Click on the section that says “Start here ”
Big Question: What does global climate change mean?
1. Is the climate of the whole Earth really changing?
2. What is climate?
3. What is weather?
4. Do we care if Earth is getting warmer?
5. Does what we do matter?
6. What is making Earth’s climate warmer?
7. Now answer the big question: What does global climate change mean?
Big Question: What is the big deal with carbon?
1. What are fossil fuels?
2. How does the carbon get into living things?
3. How does the carbon get out of living things?
4. Is carbon good, bad, or just ugly?
5. Now answer the big question: What is the big deal with carbon?
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Big Question: What is the greenhouse effect?
1. What is a greenhouse?
2. How is Earth a greenhouse?
3. Is it warm in here, or is it just me?
4. Why don’t we just plant more trees?
5. Don’t clouds keep Earth cooler?
6. Or do clouds make Earth warmer?
7. Now answer the big question: What is the greenhouse effect?
Big Question: How do we know the climate is changing?
1. So what if Earth gets a tiny bit warmer?
2. Why is Earth getting warmer?
3. How do we know what Earth was like long ago?
4. How can do little warming cause so much melting?
5. Doesn’t rising sea level just bring us closer to the beach?
6. How does climate change affect other species?
7. Now answer the big question: How do we know the climate is changing?
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Big Question: What is happening in the oceans?
1. Is the ocean important? After all, we live on land.
2. How does the ocean soak up energy?
3. How does the ocean soak up CO2?
4. How does the ocean affect climate?
5. Does the salt in the ocean do anything?
6. Now answer the big question: What is happening in the oceans?
Big Question: What can we do to help?
1. How can we help nature to help us?
2. How can I reduce my carbon footprint?
3. How can I reduce my trash pile?
4. Do I need to save water too?
5. How can I make a real difference?
8. What else do we need to find out?
9. Now answer the big question: What can we do to help?