Climate Change Toolkit: The Greenhouse Effect in a Beaker
Provided by: Paleontological Research Institution|Published on: June 29, 2022|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Worksheets
Subjects: Chemistry, Mathematics
Authors: Paleontological Research Institution
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 experiment will demonstrate the causes and impacts of the Greenhouse Effect in a hands-on and engaging way.
- Students will learn about radiant energy, Earth's atmosphere, and the Greenhouse Effect while participating in a lab that mimics the Greenhouse Effect in ways that are immediate and observable.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This activity is thorough and the reading at the beginning will be helpful for student understanding of the greenhouse effect.
- While the lab is involved, it can be differentiated and is manageable for students at a variety of levels.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students and teachers can watch this related video to see the experiment being completed.
- Students should be familiar with lab safety prior to this activity.
- To complete the experiment, teachers will need a heat lamp, two 1-liter beakers, two digital thermometers, small flexible tubing, a flask with a stopper, and NaHCO3 tablets.
Differentiation
- Cross curricular connections can be made in math classes by using the data collected or provided to graph the outcome of the experiment, or in language arts classes by writing an informational or procedural piece about the experiment or the Greenhouse Effect.
- If the materials are not accessible or students are not able to complete the physical lab for any reason, the data provided on page 6 can be used to graph results.
This resource presents an experiment in which carbon dioxide gas produced using water and antacid tablets fills a beaker and temperatures are measured and compared to a control beaker. The experiment description is clear and the resource includes supporting information to describe what is happening within the experiment. 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.
Learn about our review process →
