InTeGrate Modules and Courses >Carbon, Climate, and Energy Resources
 Earth-focused Modules and Courses for the Undergraduate Classroom
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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The materials are free and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
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Carbon, Climate, and Energy Resources


Summary

This two-week module focuses on fostering a deeper understanding of the carbon cycle and what happens when it is perturbed. In six self-contained units that would fit well in classes such as Physical Geology, Historical Geology, or Environmental Geology, students will develop their critical thinking skills, explore the dynamics of Earth's carbon cycle through biogeochemistry and the perspective of "deep time," and learn how carbon was sequestered to produce traditional and nontraditional fossil fuels. Now that these subterranean carbon reservoirs have been tapped, students will examine the current state of carbon cycle destabilization, and its potential consequences, before concluding with an examination of strategies available to society, including carbon taxation, artificial sequestration, and several kinds of geoengineering.

Strengths of the Module

By analyzing authentic and credible geoscience data, this module grounds individuals' understanding of climate change in the perspective of geologic time and Earth systems thinking (specifically the carbon cycle), as well as arming students with the tools of skepticism in order to recognize fallacious arguments and misinformation about climate science. Activities within this module facilitate students making connections between climate change, energy sources, and the moral, societal, and economic costs of policy options.
Next Generation Science Standards Logo. A purple, orange, and green triangle to the left of the words, Next Generation Science Standards.

These materials have been reviewed for their alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards. At the top of each page, you can click on the NGSS logo to see the specific connections. Visit InTeGrate and the NGSS to learn more about the process of alignment and how to use InTeGrate materials to implement the NGSS.

NGSS in this Module

Overall, this module focuses on developing a systemic understanding of the carbon cycle from formation of fossil fuels to how humans are changing the carbon cycle to cause global climate changes. Ending the module on solutions is a strong and effective pedagogic manuver that enables students to conceptualize human and ecosystem survival.

A great fit for courses in:

  • environmental science
  • meteorology
  • physical geology
  • historical geology
  • energy
  • global change


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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »