What makes a gas, a greenhouse gas?

Little Shop of Physics, Colorado State University

Students act out 4 different molecules (nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor) to discover which ones are greenhouse gases and which ones are not.

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Notes from our reviewers

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Teacher may want to prep student cards/flow chart that tell students how they can interact with other atoms. The support video is a very good tool to introduce the concepts.
This resource addresses how heat radiates in Earth's atmosphere, which common gases are greenhouse gases, and what those gases are. The lesson plan provides background information for the teacher and an explanation of what students should be doing with their molecular movements. The topic is directly linked to climate change and presented at a depth that enables understanding of the problem. Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.
A kinesthetic activity for partners and small groups may be engaging and effective for some students to understand this concept, however, it requires strong classroom management and guidance from the teacher. Prerequisites include a basic understanding of atoms, molecules, electromagnetic waves, and thermal radiation. Lesson notes include descriptions of the "dances" as well as photographs of suggested movements. It does not include a discussion guide or assessment.
The teacher will not need to invest much time to prepare the lesson but will need to acquire the stickers, hats, wigs, etc. the lesson requires. In the section "For More Information" there is a broken link for CMMAP, the Center for Multi-Scale Modeling of Atmospheric Processes. Link for video of demonstration of dances is broken, but can be found here: [link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIBk0pGV_BQ]