Can geo-engineering save the earth?
Vocabulary: geo-engineering, climate change, CO2, reflect, absorb, fertilizer, phytoplankton, renewable energy
Grammar: may, might, could (modal verbs of possibility)
Short video: What is geoengineering?
Critical thinking / discussion: Choose which project you would like to do, and give reasons for your choice.
Debate: We could focus on everyday changes like reducing carbon emissions rather than geo-engineering projects.
Getting to know you!
Ask your classmate their name and a question you'd like to know about them.
Introduce yourself and where you come from.
Choose someone to
go next!
Geo engineering video introduction
What do you know?
Design: lab with a smart TV in background, no scientist
Have you heard of geo-engineering?
Let's watch this video to learn
about it!
Design: image of video
Geo engineering video introduction
Let's watch!
Design: lab with a smart TV in background
Design: video zoomed in
Geoengineering [is] a way to counteract the dangers of manmade climate change. We could suck up all the CO2 with giant vacuums, or plant massive numbers of trees all over the world, or we could inject aerosols into the upper atmosphere. When volcanoes erupt, they launch millions
of tons of aerosols into the atmosphere that reflect sunlight back into space.
counteract = fight
suck up = remove
CO2 = carbon dioxide, a gas
inject =
put into
atmosphere = the air that surrounds the earth
aerosols = tiny drops that hang in the air
reflect =
bounce off
bold words will be clickable & definition will appear.
Click on the words you don't understand for some help.
What is geo-engineering?
Comp questions
What examples of geo-engineering did you see in the video?
Answer the questions!
Design: lab with a smart TV in background
the use of technology to change the Earth's environment to help stop climate change.
Guess the word!
geo-engineering
climate change
geology
Vocab - click on the bubble to reveal the options
Vocab - answer is highlighted
a gas in the air. If there is too much of it, it can cause the Earth to heat up.
Guess the word!
air
CO2
oxygen
Vocab - click on the bubble to reveal the options
Vocab - answer is highlighted
to bounce back light or heat.
Guess the word!
repair
reflect
energy
Vocab - click on the bubble to reveal the options
Vocab - answer is highlighted
to take in or soak up.
Guess the word!
throw
give off
absorb
Vocab - click on the bubble to reveal the options
Vocab - answer is highlighted
food that is added to soil or water to help plants grow.
4o
Guess the word!
fertilizer
plant pot
watering can
Vocab - click on the bubble to reveal the options
Vocab - answer is highlighted
tiny plants in the ocean that float in the water and make food using sunlight.
Guess the word!
sea grass
phytoplankton
shrimp
Vocab - click on the bubble to reveal the options
Vocab - answer is highlighted
a process where the Earth
is getting warmer
over a long time.
Guess the word!
climate change
extreme weather
space
Vocab - click on the bubble to reveal the options
Vocab - answer is highlighted
energy that comes from natural sources and does not run out, like sunlight, wind, and water.
Guess the word!
recycle
fossil fuels
renewable
energy
Vocab - click on the bubble to reveal the options
Vocab - answer is highlighted
Geo-engineering project:
space mirrors
Space mirrors are large mirrors put in space to reflect some of the sun's rays away from Earth.
How could space mirrors help to stop climate change?
What might be some problems with using space mirrors?
Sea fertilizer involves adding food for plants into the sea. This encourages tiny plants called phytoplankton to grow.
What could be some benefits of using sea fertilizer?
Solution #2
Geo-engineering project:
sea fertilizer
How might putting fertilizer in the sea help to stop climate change?
What might be the benefits of the project?
How much money
could it cost?
How difficult would the project be?
How long could it take to see the benefits?
You have been given money for a geo-engineering project. Choose which project you would like to do, and give reasons for your choice.
sea fertilization
space mirrors
Riddle time!
I reflect sunlight away, high up in space I stay. What am I?
I’m a tiny plant in the sea, absorbing carbon happily. What am I?
I am a gas in the air, causing climate change everywhere. What am I?
I’m a big ball in the sky, bright and hot. When I shine, I can make plants grow a lot. What am I?
Let's brainstorm!
Some people don't think
geo-engineering projects are useful and we can stop climate change by making smaller everyday changes.
What everyday changes could we make to stop climate change?
renewable
energy
public
transport
eat less
meat
reduce
waste
make homes
warmer
We could focus on everyday changes and not geo-engineering projects to help solve climate change.
Yes
Debate
No
We could focus on everyday changes and not geo-engineering projects to help solve climate change.
Yes
Debate
No
money?
difficult/easy
to do?
How long
could it take?
How quickly could we see a change?
environmental effects?
Cool down - reflection what they got out of today's lesson.
Let's chat!
Say which geo-engineering idea you like best.
Say if your thoughts on geo-engineering changed.
Say something
you learned.
Say which of your classmates had great ideas.
Say what you
found interesting.
Say what you will do to help climate change.
Did you enjoy today's lesson?
Was the lesson too difficult?
Yes
No
No
See you again soon. Goodbye!
Extension activity
Ciimate Change: Geo-engineering
By Kate Pearce
