Climate Change Lesson 2 : Earth's Energy Balance

Students learn about the Earth’s energy balance.

Students will answer these essential questions:

How does the sun heat the Earth? 

How does the atmosphere help balance the energy received?


Subject/Target Grade

Science/Middle School and High School

Duration

One 45-50 minute period – Classroom setting

Materials

From MEECS Climate Change Resource DVD

Radiation from the Sun and Earth (QuickTime Movie – 2:17 minutes)

Earth’s Energy Balance (QuickTime Movie – 3:35 minutes)

Earth’s Energy Budget (for option 1) PowerPoint 

Download: Earths_Energy_Budget_PowerPoint.pptx

Balancing the Energy Budget by Percentage (for option 2) PowerPoint 

Download: Balancing_the_Energy_Budget_by_Percentage_PowerPoint.pptx

Energy Budget Changes Since 1950 PowerPoint 

Download: Energy_Budget_Changes_Since_1950_PowerPoint.pptx


per class

Electromagnetic Spectrum (transparency master) 

Download: The_Electromagnetic_Spectrum_Transparency_Master.pdf

Radiation from the Sun and Earth (answer key) 

Download: Radiation_from_the_Sun_and_Earth_Answer_Key.pdf

Energy Budget Changes Since 1950 (transparency master) 

Download: Energy_Budget_Changes_Since_1950_Transparency_Master.pdf

Option 1:

Earth’s Energy Budget Parts 1-4 (transparency master) 

Download: Earths_Energy_Budget_Answer_Key_and_Teacher_Resource_JAm9e5P.pdf

Earth’s Energy Budget Parts 1-4 (answer key/teacher resource) 

Download: Earths_Energy_Budget_Answer_Key_and_Teacher_Resource_p1OS8DM.pdf

Option 2:

– NASA’s Earth’s Energy Budget (poster) 

Download: Earths_Energy_Budget_PowerPoint_vzBpnIZ.pptx

Balancing the Energy Budget (answer key) 

Download: Balancing_the_Energy_Budget_Answer_Key.pdf

Balancing the Energy Budget (teacher resource, found in kit) 


per student

Radiation from the Sun and Earth (student activity) 

Download: Radiation_from_the_Sun_and_Earth_Student_Activity.pdf

Option 1:

Earth’s Energy Budget Parts 1-4 (student activity) 

Download: Earths_Energy_Budget_Student_Activity.pdf

Option 2:

Balancing the Energy Budget (student activity) 

Download: Balancing_the_Energy_Budget_Student_Activity.pdf

Balancing the Energy Budget by Percentage (student handout, found in kit)

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