Understanding the Carbon Cycle: A Jigsaw Approach part of Climate Change:Activities
David Hastings, Eckerd College
In this "jigsaw" exercise, each student is assigned one of five geochemical processes in the carbon cycle to research, fully understand, and then explain to others in groups of five. At the end of class ...

Sediments and the Global Carbon Cycle part of Sedimentary Geology:Activities
Lonnie Leithold, North Carolina State University
This is a series of exercises designed to introduce undergraduate students to the role of sediments and sedimentary rocks in the global carbon cycle and the use of stable carbon isotopes to reconstruct ancient ...

Exploring the Link between Hurricanes and Climate using GCM Results part of Hurricanes-Climate Change Connection:Activities
Cindy Shellito, University of Northern Colorado
This activity requires students to examine global climate model output available online and consider the potential impact of global warming on tropical cyclone initiation and evolution. As a follow-up, students ...

Student Lead Discussions: Articles from the Literature and Final Writing Assignment part of Hurricanes-Climate Change Connection:Activities
Dave Dempsey, San Francisco State University
This is a two-stage assignment. The first stage is a student-led discussion of a set of closely related articles selected by the instructors from the climate change literature. The second stage is an 8-12 page ...

Modeling Early Earth Climate with GEEBITT part of Early Earth:Activities
Cindy Shellito, University of Northern Colorado
This activity requires students to use a simple spreadsheet model to consider the roles of solar luminosity, planetary albedo, and greenhouse gases in controlling surface temperature in the present and during the ...

Simulation of international negotiations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions part of Climate Change:Activities
David Hastings, Eckerd College
In order to convey how the international community is responding to climate change, students engage in a simulation of the international negotiation process. Participants learn first hand the interests of different ...

Oceans and Climate Debate part of Oceanography:Activities
Branwen Williams, Claremont McKenna College
This activity orally tests students understanding of the links between ocean processes and global climate change. It is set up as a debate with students serving as the science experts and volunteer faculty serving ...

Deep water circulation and chemistry jigsaw part of Oceanography:Activities
Michele LaVigne, Bowdoin College
This activity is designed to introduce students to the way in which thermohaline circulation and the biological pump influence the distribution of nutrients, oxygen, carbon, and radiocarbon in the Atlantic vs. ...

Global Phosphorus Cycle part of Quantitative Skills:Activity Collection
Kirsten Menking, Vassar College
Students create and modify a STELLA model of the global phosphorus cycle to test a number of scenarios.

Poleward Heat Transport Jigsaw part of Hurricanes-Climate Change Connection:Activities
E. Christa Farmer, Hofstra University
Based on great plate tectonic exercise by Sawyer et al. (2005 JGE), this small-group exercise with maps of data about earth's energy balance helps students visualize poleward heat transport.