Background: Dr. Art's Guide to Planet Earth, pages 106-111.
Purpose:
Many of the things that we do increase the emissions of carbon dioxide into
the atmosphere. Whenever we burn a fossil fuel to drive our car, heat our
homes, make hot water, or provide the electricity used by our television or
other electrical devices, we take carbon that was previous locked out of
today's carbon cycle and inject it into the atmosphere. Other industrial
activities, such as manufacturing cement, emit significant amounts of carbon
dioxide. This exercise dramatically illustrates the different amounts of carbon
dioxide emission made by citizens in different countries.
Equipment and Supplies:
A group of at least 19 people; 30 black balloons; Engaging displays for
different continents (e.g., flags, or travel posters, or symbols such as
football helmet, beret, serape)
Duration:
Demonstration Mode- 15 minutes
Procedures: Demonstration Mode
- Explain that many societal activities result in the emission of carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere. Distinguish between this industrial emission
and the respiration/photosynthesis cycle. Elicit comments about whether
different lifestyles would result in different amounts of carbon dioxide
emissions.
- Select 19 students to represent the entire world population. Divide
the group into five sub-groups (see chart below).
- Distribute 30 black balloons among the groups using the chart below.
- Have participants discuss the results. If necessary, ask leading
questions such as, "What would be the effect of everyone in Asia living
like a North American?"
