What Is the Greenhouse Effect?

Notes from our reviewers

The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials.

• Teaching Tips
  Consider using the top 2/3 of this page to present the greenhouse effect and skip the section on ocean acidification unless you plan to explain the connection in detail and go further into the causes and impacts of acidification than this page does.
• About the Science
  The concept of the greenhouse effect is explained well. The data shown in the video is over a decade old, but doesn't detract from the ideas presented. One consideration is that this page connects the greenhouse effect to ocean acidification without doing much work to establish the link. While both are caused by increased greenhouse gases, the impact of the atmosphere blocking more heat from escaping does not directly connect to acidification. If this link is going to be made, more information needs to be presented and explained to students. Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.
• About the Pedagogy
  This page does a nice job explaining the greenhouse effect at a grade-appropriate level including how humans impact the greenhouse effect and what reduces the greenhouse effect on earth.
• Technical Details/Ease of Use
  This is a technically sound resource as long as teachers have a good internet connection to play the video.