Save the Earth from plastic with this DIY crafting series of easy-to make, eco-friendly party favors and school gadgets. Without it, our planet would be very cold, like Mars. How do they know? Warmer water changes the patterns of ocean currents, affecting global weather patterns. What is climate change? U.S. For example, if you see that it’s raining outside right now, that’s a way to describe today’s weather. The climate changes when the atmosphere is affected either by Earth’s natural features or by living things. Some places will receive more rainfall, which could lead to flooding, while other places will get less, which might mean drought. But in other ways, kids are much like the rest of the country when it comes to climate change. So be cool by doing your best to keep Earth well … cool! So, for example, one or two weeks of rainy weather wouldn’t change the fact that Phoenix typically has a dry, desert climate. Wash your clothes in cold water, and hang them to dry. In a post for National Geographic Education, Tredinnick describes how he used Google Earth tools to show his Omaha students the evidence of climate change that he witnessed firsthand. All rights reserved. Graph of change in annual global temperatures, compared to the average of global annual temperatures from 1880-1899. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. They explore data showing temperature changes over the past 120 years and data illustrating climate trends over different time scales. 'Kids do care’: Teen climate change activists aim for change with weekly protests . Learn about plastic and how to reduce your use. Emphasize that climate … Stacie Paxton Cobos, senior vice president for communications and marketing at The Climate Reality Project, a nonprofit organization founded by Al Gore, says parents should first help their children develop an appreciation of the natural world before trying to explain climate change. Climate change affects more than temperature. With the Arctic showing more extreme indications of climate change, researchers have found that the movement patterns of animals in the region are shifting, which could disrupt entire ecosystems. Then, they will propose solutions to minimize the consequences of climate change on our … Hundreds of plant and animal species have already experienced changes because of climate change. Rain, snow, wind, hurricanes, tornadoes — these are all weather events. Farm animals, er. Factories emit lots of carbon dioxide when making new products. Certain gases in Earth’s atmosphere block heat from escaping. The American pika, for example, is a small mammal that lives in cool mountainous areas in western North America—in fact, it can die when exposed to temperatures warmer than 78˚F.So as the mountain climate heats up, the pika climbs the slopes in search of cooler habitat. This article addresses the concept of climatic variation and change within the set of integrated natural features and processes known as the Earth system. When sunlight enters our atmosphere, some of the sun’s heat is trapped by the gas, and some bounces back out into space. As The Guardianreported, “To date, many attempts to educate the public – and our kids – about climate change have relied on scare tactics that focus on superstorms, massive floods and ominous weather patterns to generate fear. But what happens when temperatures at the top become too warm for the pika? Human activities — such as burning fuel to power factories, cars and buses — are changing the natural greenhouse. This matters because oceans, land, air, plants, animals and energy from the Sun all have an effect on one another. Impacts of climate change include: Heat waves. (Buying products that are made with recycled glass and plastic also emits carbon dioxide, though less so.) Lab activities can be one of the most effective ways to show children how global warming … Students will first take an in-depth look into the earth’s climate, the roles humans play in climate changes, and the impacts the changing climate will have on humans. They expect the climate will warm another .5°F to 8.6°F by the year 2100. They’ve also ruled out the natural factors that caused warming in the past. Yes. Climate Literacy & Energy Awareness Network. Through careful study, they know that the climate is warming about 10 times faster than the average previous warming times. But on average, global air temperatures near Earth's surface have gone up about 2 degrees Fahrenheit in the past 100 years. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Arctic burned in the northern … By trapping that heat, our atmosphere keeps Earth warm enough to live on. Climate is the pattern of the weather conditions over a long period of time for a large area. All rights reserved. These gases keep Earth warm like the glass in a greenhouse keeps plants warm. But during the past few hundred years, oil, gas, and coal have powered homes, cars, and factories. Photograph by Cindy Creighton, Shutterstock, Photograph by Monkey Business Images, Shutterstock. Check it all out here! Good thing holey jeans are back in style! Thinking about things as systems means looking for how every part relates to others. Many people, including scientists, are concerned about this warming. Heat waves are long periods of time with above-normal temperatures. How can schools play a part in tackling climate change? These changes in polar sea ice are a result of climate change. Droughts and heat waves are also expected to become more intense as the climate warms. Wear a warm sweater at home in the winter instead of turning up the heat, and open your windows instead of blasting the air conditioning in the summer. Kids are often hearing about climate change in the news, and there have been reports that it’s causing them to feel fear and anxiety, which defeats the object of climate change education.