ARE WE OVERHEATING? A project for the Stage 3 Science and Technology unit "Environment Matters"

Background

Since the 1970's the world's temperatures have been steadily rising, resulting in global warming and a significant increase in the world's snow and ice cover. Increasing amounts of greenhouse gases are likely to accelerate the rate of climate change leading to the raising of global sea levels and the flooding of current coastlines.

Problem

The State Minister of the Environment is visiting your area to discuss issues relating to global warming. Your school has been invited send a group of delegates to make a presentation on how to overcome the ever increasing problem of global warming.

Challenge

What is the most significant effect of global warming and how can it be overcome at the global, national and local level?

Points to consider:

• What is global warming?
• What are the causes and effects of global warming?
• What measures are currently used to overcome global warming?
• You must consider at least three effects of global warming.

Presentation

Each member of your group must contribute to the presentation and deliver a section of the report, orally, to the audience.

Your presentation can be supported by charts, maps, diagrams, flowcharts, slides, Kid Pix, overhead transparencies, etc.

Your presentation must include:

• An introduction of team members.
• A prioritised list of the causes of global warming.
• The three effects of global warming that you studied.
• A prioritised list of the effects and why they were chosen.
• What can the government do to overcome the main cause of global warming?
• What can you do? THINK GLOBAL - ACT LOCAL
• Bibliography

Finding Relevant Information

• Information on global warming can be found:
• in the school or town Library
• CD encyclopaedias
• On the World Wide Web, the following sites may assist you:

You will be assessed on your: Visual presentation Use of aids to supplement your oral presentation Accuracy of your information Your reasoning in selecting the "most significant effect" of global warming Your plan to overcome the effect of global warming that you studied