Activity Introduction

Quick Summary: Students will investigate the levels of CO2 in the air from Cape Grim, one of the cleanest sources of air in the world. Using authentic data they will analyse a graph and plot data points on a set of axis.  After students have plotted their own graphs they will consider the historic trends and comment on what they think will happen in the future. They will also have the opportunity to investigate another greenhouse gas (GHG) observed at Cape Grim and use this to comment of the levels in more populated areas.

Learning goals:

  • Students understand how to read data from a graph.
  • Students know how to plot coordinate points onto a Cartesian plane.
  • Students discover the impact of air pollution on a global scale and how the levels of greenhouse gas are changing over time.
  • Students take personal action to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions.

General capabilities: Numeracy, Critical and creative thinking.

Australian Curriculum content description:

Year 7 Mathematics:

  • Given coordinates, plot points on the Cartesian plane, and find coordinates for a given point (ACMNA178)
  • Investigate, interpret and analyse graphs from authentic data (ACMNA180)

In line with the Australian Curriculum questions are graded to cover understanding, fluency, problem solving and reasoning.

Topic: Number and Algebra: Linear and non-linear relationships, climate change

Time required: 40-60 min

Level of teacher scaffolding: Low/Medium – teacher may need to demonstrate some calculations.

Resources Required: Student Worksheet, internet access, Climate Change Digital Toolbox.

Homework and extension opportunities: Students will research another GHG and compare it with the changes they observed in CO2 levels.

Further activities: this activity can be completed as a stand alone lesson or as a part of a series with ‘The stats on the source of the world cleanest air – Year 7’

Key words: Graph, Cartesian plane, plotting, coordinate points, data, greenhouse gas, climate change, carbon emissions.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher Preparation:

Overarching learning goals: In this activity students will understand how to read data from a graph. Using data they have collected, students will know how to plot coordinate points onto a Cartesian plane. Through the collection and consideration of the data they will discover the impact of air pollution on a global scale and how the levels of greenhouse gas are changing over time.

Teacher content information: Cape Grim, Tasmania is one of only three locations in the world which have been chosen by World Meteorological Organization-Global Atmosphere Watch (WMO-GAW) for having the cleanest air in the world.  However, since the station began measuring air quality in 1979 the statistics have shown an increase in Greenhouse gases (GHG) and shockingly CO2 levels have increased by 15%.  Human activity has been mainly blamed for these increased through things like burning of fossil fuels.

Cape Grim Data interactive graph give students a visual representation of the CO2

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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: Imagine if we bottled clean air like we bottle clean drinking water...

framed bottled air

Introduction: Cape Grim, Tasmania is one of only three locations in the world which have been chosen by World Meteorological Organization-Global Atmosphere Watch (WMO-GAW) for having the cleanest air in the world!  However, since the station began measuring air quality in 1979 the statistics have shown an increase in Greenhouse gases (GHG) and shockingly CO2 levels have increased by 15%.  Human activity has been mainly blamed for these increased through things like burning of fossil fuels.

Answer the following questions by visiting Cape Grim Data interactive graph

Question 1

a. What does the x-axis show?

b. what does the y-axis show?

c. What does 'parts per million' mean?

d. Which words words apply to the graph: linear, non-linear, increasing, decreasing?

e. In words, describe the graph and what it shows.

f. What environmental factors might be contrib

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