Overview

As a high school Chemistry teacher, this set of computer-based tools will help you to introduce the topics of hydrocarbons in fossil fuels, carbon dioxide release by fossil fuel combustion and the effect of high atmospheric carbon dioxide on climate change. This lesson plan helps students to learn about hydrocarbons, different types of hydrocarbons, and how the products of their combustion reactions can potentially lead to climate change. Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Chemistry.

Grade Level: High School
Discipline: Chemistry, Environmental Sciences
Topics: Chemistry: Fossil fuels, Hydrocarbons, Combustion reactions; Environmental Sciences: Carbon dioxide and global warming
Climate Topic: Climate and the Atmosphere, Climate and the anthroposphere, Energy sources and Climate change
Location: Global
Languages: English
Access: Online (some material can be downloaded for offline use)
Duration: 50-60 min

Learning outcomes

The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:

• Learn that fossil fuels are primarily composed of hydrocarbons.
• Compare the products of combustion of various hydrocarbons.
• Explore the thermal properties of carbon dioxide and air.
• Interpret how the combustion of fossil fuels may release greenhouse gases such as CO2 in the atmosphere and may potentially contribute to global warming.