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Global Temperature Change
Student Guide
Assignment Summary
For this assignment, you will ask questions about the factors that have caused a rise in global
temperatures over the past century. Then, you will conduct research to answer your questions. You will
also graph provided information, analyze the graphs, and make conclusions based on the graphs.
Finally, you will write a paper describing the conclusions of your research and graphs.
Global temperature change is a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Both human activity and natural processes have contributed to this temperature increase. Examples of
human activities include the burning of fossil fuels, cement production, and agricultural activity. Examples
of natural processes include changes in incoming solar radiation and volcanic activity.
Scientists present evidence for the rise in global temperature in the form of tables, graphs, maps, and
models. For example, scientists build climate models (computer simulations of climate systems) to
explore the causes and effects of global temperature change and to predict future trends. These models
predict that the Earth’s average surface temperature will rise as greenhouse gas concentrations continue
to rise. Based on these models, scientists predict that average surface temperatures could rise by
between 2°C and 6°C by the end of the 21st century.
Materials
• Computer with Internet access
• Print resources
• Word-processing software
Step 1: Prepare for the project.
a) Read through this guide before you begin so you know the expectations for this project.
b) If anything is not clear to you, ask your teacher for assistance.
Step 2: Write your questions.
a) You are familiar with some of the factors that have contributed to the rise in global
temperatures over the past century. Think of three questions that will help you clarify your
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understanding of how these factors lead to an increase in global temperatures. Consider the
following when you come up with your questions:
• Ways in which natural processes and human activity have affected global temperature
change over the past century
• The influence of these processes and activities on a gradual or sudden change in global
temperature
b) Write your questions in the space provided at the end of this document.
c) Have your teacher review your questions. Once they are approved, you may begin Step 3.
Step 3: Conduct research.
a) Search for answers to each of your questions. Be sure to support your answers with scientific
evidence from reliable sources.
b) The following are examples of some reliable sources you might use:
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• Nature magazine
Step 4: Create graphs.
a) Use the information in the tables below to create two-line graphs.
• The first graph should show the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from 2015–
2022.
• The second graph should show the change in global temperature from 2015–2022.
Table A. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the Atmosphere
Year
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in Atmosphere
(ppm*)
2015 401
2016 404
2017 407
2018 409
2019 412
2020 414
2021 416
2022 419
*parts per million
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Table B. Change in Global Temperature
Year Change in Global Temperature (°C)
2015 0.90
2016 0.94
2017 0.91
2018 0.82
2019 0.94
2020 0.98
2021 0.84
2022 0.86
b) Make sure your graphs have the following parts:
• A title that reflects the information in the graph
• Factors that are properly placed on axes (For example, does the year go on the x-axis or
the y-axis?)
• Properly labeled axes
• A line that connects the points in the graph
c) Have your teacher check your graphs before you move on to the next step.
d) Use your graphs to answer the following questions. You will include the answers to these
questions in your typewritten paper.
• What happened to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from 2015–2022?
• How did the global temperature change from 2015–2022?
• What is the relationship between the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and
global temperature?
• Research global temperature changes and changes in CO2 levels for the years 1950 to
2022. Based on past changes in overall global temperatures and CO2, what is your
prediction for the next 10 years for global temperature change and carbon dioxide
amounts in the atmosphere?
e) Update your Works Cited page by adding the resources you used to revise your explanation.
Step 5: Create a typewritten paper.
a) For each of your questions, write one paragraph summarizing the answer based on your
research.
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• Cite evidence and patterns in data that connect natural processes and human activity to
the rise in global temperature. Be sure to include as evidence the trends that you
observed in your graphs and the conclusion you made about the relationship between the
amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and change in global temperature.
• Discuss the relationship between these processes and activities, the production of
greenhouse gases, and the effects of greenhouse gases on the atmosphere.
• Use patterns and quanitative data to make predictions for carbon dioxide amounts and
temperature change in the next ten years.
b) Make sure your paragraphs use correct sentence structure, punctuation, grammar, and
spelling.
c) Ask your teacher where you should save your work. Your teacher may also have specific
guidelines about the file name you should use.
Step 6: Evaluate your project using this checklist.
If you can check each criterion below, you are ready to submit your presentation.
Yes No Evaluation Question
Is your name on your typewritten paper?
Did you do research to answer your questions?
Did you create a graph that shows the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from
2015-2022?
Did you create a graph that shows the change in global temperature from 2015-2022?
Did you write four total paragraphs answering your questions?
Did you cite scientific evidence that connects natural processes and human activity to the
rise in global temperature?
Did you include as evidence the trends that you see in your graphs and the conclusion you
made about the relationship between the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and
the change in global temperature?
Did you discuss the relationship between natural processes and human activities, the
production of greenhouse gases, and the effects of greenhouse gases on the atmosphere?
Did you use the patterns and quantitative data to make predictions for carbon dioxide
amounts and temperature change in the next ten years.
Did you double check for correct sentence structure, punctuation, grammar, and spelling in
your paper?
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Step 7: Revise and submit your project.
a) If you were unable to check off all of the requirements on the checklist, go back and make
sure that your project is complete. Save your project before submitting it.
b) Submit your typed paper through the Virtual Classroom.
c) Congratulations! You have completed your project.
Research Questions
Write your four questions in the space below.
