A Model of the Greenhouse Effect  -- PDF of this activity

 Objectives:         

• To observe the greenhouse effect
• To describe the effect that a heat source has on two different environments

Teacher background:     

 Greenhouse gases influence the temperatures on the Earth.

Vocabulary:  Greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases,

Materials:  

1 liter clear, plastic, soft drink bottle with top cut off and label   removed (2)

Thermometer (2)   **optional – temperature probe

Potting soil

Masking tape

Plastic wrap

Rubber band

Watch or clock

Procedure: 

1.       Put an equal amount of potting soil in the bottom of each container.

2.       Use masking tape to tape each thermometer to the inside of the containers.  Make sure that the thermometers are placed at an equal distance above the soil.

3.       Place plastic wrap on top of one of the containers and seal it with a rubber band.

4.       Place next to a sunny window.  Record the temperatures of the two containers.

5.       Record the temperatures in the 2 containers every 2 minutes for the next 20 minutes.

6.       Graph your data.

Assessment:  (Compare the temps.  What does the plastic wrap represent in the model?)

Extension Activities:  Observe and/or record humidity