Methane and Climate Change
Provided by: MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative|Published on: January 17, 2024|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12, AP
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Mathematics
Authors: MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative
Location: Earth
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This lesson plan describes the powerful greenhouse effect of methane, details its natural and human-generated sources, and discusses solutions to address these emissions.
- Students will listen to a podcast, complete a jigsaw activity using a reading about methane sources, and compare and contrast two articles about tracking fugitive methane emissions.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The guide provides all materials required to teach the lesson, including student pages, so there is minimal prep for teachers.
- Students have numerous opportunities to practice reading and analyzing graphs, charts, and infographics.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should already have a basic understanding of the greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases, and how this contributes to climate change.
Differentiation
- The lesson includes multiple chances for students to work with partners or small groups. Teachers can intentionally group students by ability level to better facilitate support.
- English Language Arts classes can use these activities to practice reading comprehension of scientific texts and comparing and contrasting nonfiction articles.
- Cross-curricular connections can be made with chemistry and physical science classes by further discussing the structure and properties of methane that contribute to its heat-trapping ability.
While there are reasonably differing estimates in the comparison of methane to carbon dioxide, it is decidedly a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Limiting its release into the atmosphere is vital to curbing global warming. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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