kids thoughts on global warming

One of my absolute favorite lessons I have created for my students centers on climate change.

Here is the information I gave to them: http://locker.palcs.org/%7Eesamuels/ecology/climate/indexclimatechange.html

I asked them several questions. At the end, I asked them what they thought about the data. Here are some of their responses:










I do not necessarily agree with all that was presented here. Because I do not believe the Earth is millions of years old, I believe it is under 10,000 years old, I see that the ice core data chart ought to be compressed into lesser years, perhaps for every 50 million years on the chart should be 50 years. The carbon level and temperature level is ever changing. I do believe in climate fluctuation but I do not think it has to do with the amount of carbon levels in the atmosphere. The Earth is constantly heating and cooling. People that believe global warming is true really have nothing to go on with the record breaking snow fall this Winter.

I never realized how much carbon dioxide was in the air. I think we do need to cut back on the amount of carbon dioxide we put into the air but I dont believe global warming is as big of a threat as people make it out to be.

I found this information to be very interesting and it really made me think about the different effects that everything has on the earth. I never really gave a lot of thought to all the changes that are taking place but now I am more aware more interested in doing what I can to help.

My reaction is that there really does need to be something done. Everyone should pitch in and do their part to help reduce the CO2 that is being put into the atmosphere. Every little bit would help. I think it could be reversed if people try to help.

After viewing this data, I would like to do more research on my own on the effects of global warming. I was always under the impression that global warming was being dramatically overplayed by the media. I now have doubts about that and would like to find out more on my own.

My reaction to this data was shocking. I did not know about most of the data discussed and I definitely found them interesting. Over all, I think the data concludes that higher temperatures occurring and are affecting so many aspects of the planet we live on.

Well, my family is pretty up on their science, especially my dad. And two days ago (February 15, 2010,). Professor Phil Jones basically made a retreat from his claims on climate change.
MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: The professor's amazing climate change retreat

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1250813/MAIL-ON-SUNDAY-COMMENT-The-professors-amazing-climate-change-retreat.html

Check out this link. This article is shocking, go read it.
"Even more strikingly, he also sounds much less ebullient about the basic theory, admitting that there is little difference between global warming rates in the nineties and in two previous periods since 1860, and accepting that from 1995 to now there has been no statistically significant warming."- Quote from the article.

I am not trying to slam global warming, climate change, or what I am learning. I am just answering the question of my reaction to the data based upon knowledge I had obtained prior to this lesson.


I think that the data here is strong evidence that the world is getting hot. People should be doing more to protect the Earth, and this is definitely going to motivate me.

My reaction to this data is that the Earth is going through a natural warming cycle and humans are just making the rising temperature be higher and higher.

In reaction to this data, I have realized just how serious global warming in is, and it scientifically affirmed my beliefs in the fact that global warming is a reality, and that it can have serious climate changing effects on out planet.

I had a previous understanding of the dire situation of global warming and its effects, so while I am disgusted that it has become such a problem, I am not shocked.

The world is always changing and it always will. The earth has had is hot and cold time periods and we are just in the hot part. The earth just completed an ice age and we are just speeding things up with the green house effect. In the time span of the Earth this did not happen all that long ago. No matter what we do, the world will live on and we need to adapt to survive.






At least I can say with some measure of certainty that they are THINKING. I love how their answers sort of run the gamut, but they are somewhat passionate about it.

Nanny

Jon's paternal grandmother, Nanny, passed away on January 26th. You can see her obit here.

I do not remember the first time I met Nanny, but I do remember the first, and only, time I was at her house in Connecticut. It was the first time Jon took me to Maine with his family, the summer between our Freshman and Soph years of college. We stopped by and I think slept over en route. I do not recall much from the visit except that there were a lot of plants, the stairs were narrow, and a vaguely remember ugly carpet.

She moved to PA about 6 (8??) years ago. Since then, we have spent many birthdays and holidays with her. She has been an integral part of Nicol celebrations.

It has been a rough road though, particularly the past two years as her mobility and mental health declined. She had good days and bad days. Her last really good day was on Christmas. Jon and I went to see her, along with Jon's parents. She was awake, alert, and even cracked jokes. It was really great to see her like that, and it was also the last time I saw her at all.

After that, her mental health got much worse and her doctor's took to sedating her to keep her calm instead of confused and anxious. Hospice decided to take her off of her medications and as her physical body prepared to pass, she stopped eating. Jon and his sisters were able to see her the evening before she died, though she was sleeping, it was hard on all. The following day, she died, and again the family went to visit her and pray for her.

In some ways, her passing was a relief. Nurses and the chaplain at her nursing home said that in her final days, she started to see her husband, who went before her, along with her mother and sister. It has been heart-breaking for Jon's dad to watch her age, as well. Like my own grandfather, it was just the right time, and leaving this existence was the best situation.

The first service was on Friday, at the nursing home. A few of her friends at the home came, and the chaplain there did a really fantastic job. She spoke of how vibrant Nanny was and how she drew people to her with her vitality. I wish I had gotten to see that side of her when she was alive, but I know the memory burns strong in Jon and his sister's minds. Elyza was crawling all over the place and Theo did a pretty amazing army crawl across the room, but those were the only distractions. We sang How Great Thou Art, which apparently always brings me to tears. It is just an emotional song... for me tied up in memories of my wedding, my grandparents, funerals, and some other things.

That evening, it took an hour to get home in ridiculous snow. On Sat, we were snowed in and because of the amount of snow we had, the funeral at church had to be moved to Sunday. Overall, it worked out, because it allowed everyone a bit more time to get ready and for the funeral to be what Jon's dad wanted it to be. I think not quite as many people came as expected due to the weather, but there was a strong showing of support for the family.

I think the hardest part for Jon's dad is that he really does not have a lot of "original" family left. I mean, he has us, and he has two cousins, but both of his parents and his aunt and uncle are gone. That is just very difficult for anyone. I am hoping that he gets some time to really absorb it all and grieve. It is tough to do that with 4 little kids running around the house. :)

Anyway, her passing went well, if you could say that? Everyone got to see her before she died, and everyone got to celebrate her life in the way that they wanted to. A happy, temporary ending. She is out there.

I think one of the most interesting parts of this tale have to do with Tait. He is 5. I was working on a picture board for the ceremony and Tait told me that he missed Nanny. I said, Well, you know she is there with you, and watching you, and loving you. He goes, Yeah, I know.

Later, we were reading a book about volcanos and tube worms near undersea vents. He said that one of them looked like it was dead, like Nanny. I asked Tait if he thought that tube worms went to Heaven. He thought quite a bit about this and said, maybe there is an undersea cave Heaven where tube worms go when they die. He is adorable.

grr

In times of distress, I prefer to write. I am a little bit angry and my injustice meter is letting off a resounding wail… so here it goes.

It is my personal opinion that a teacher’s opinions should be kept out of the classroom. (Yes, I get the irony.) I don’t care if you think teaching grammar is a waste of time, it is still important for students to learn it. I don’t care if you find WWII a snooze-fest, kids still need to learn it. Hate foreign languages? Don’t care. Kids should be bilingual if possible – learning a new language challenges their brains in ways they otherwise wouldn’t. Could care less that 2x + 1 = 5, what is x? It’s a valuable exercise for students.

Normally, it is not a huge issue for most teachers. But then, very few teachers I know are science teachers, particularly life science teachers. I am fairly certain that my biology course contains some of the most controversial topics that a student can learn in school – particularly evolution and global warming.

Here is the thing: I absolutely do not care if you are a born again fire and brimstone my buddy Jesus evangelizing Christian. Yay for you, that is wonderful, really, and I would never deny anyone their right to faith and believing whatever they want to believe… but if you are a science teacher, set it aside.

I strongly feel that the job of a science teacher is to present science. Allow kids to think for themselves. It is not for us to make up their minds. Present them with the scientific perspective. That is what you have been trained to do, that is what you are paid to do.

Now, a lot of evangelical Christians might say that being a life science teacher is the perfect opportunity to get kids thinking about God. And yes, it is. I will not argue with you there. And I think it is very important for them to consider all sides of the story… but in my role as a science teacher, it is NOT up to me to make sure that happens.

There is no problem bringing up the controversy. Tell kids WHY there is controversy. Explain to them what other people say about it, why they get into such an uproar over evolution. Be careful to tell them why some people disagree with the idea of global warming. Do these things, show them that there is more than one side, but do not give them your opinion. Encourage them to come up with their own opinion. Encourage them to research on their own and to really question what they think and believe. Do these things, but sheesh, leave your own agenda out of it.

Kids are so impressionable. And every year, I get kids who want to know what I think about it. I refuse each time. Why? Because I know that they look up to me. When I say something, it has stock. I do not want MY opinion swaying theirs. I desperately want them to use their critical thinking skills and figure things out for themselves. They need to weigh scientific evidence AND they need to engage with their parents / churches / friends over this information.

A lot of parents at my school would have no issue if I just said, Well, I think God did it all. Truthfully, I do think God did it all, but that does not mean I think evolution does not happen, and it does not mean I don’t think global warming is a pressing and important issue. I think the earth IS billions of years old. I think we really DO need to curb our carbon dioxide emissions. And I do think God is the root of all of it. Many people would have little problem if I said this to my students.

But what if I said that the earth is on the back of a giant turtle (Native American creation story) or that I thought in my next earthly life, I would probably be a cat (reincarnation) or that the Holocaust did not happen. Most would take issue, right? Well I take huge issue when science teachers start saying that evolution is a bunch of scientific myth (because it’s “just a theory”) or that global warming is just a money making government scam that is really just a natural earthly pattern of warming and cooling. That REALLY bothers me. A lot. A lot a lot. What if that was happening to your kid?

Sure, bring up the controversy. Again, nothing wrong with telling students the reasons that people take issue with it. There is nothing wrong with saying that some people feel that global warming is an over-reaction and exploring why people might feel that way. But when a teacher goes over the line and blatantly says their own opinion on this stuff, I really want to crack some skulls.

In short, students are impressionable, even if they think that they aren’t. As a science teacher, it is our duty to present the scientific side of things, and, at times, explore why there is controversy. It is NOT our position to state our opinions. Teachers can think what they want to think, but ultimately we are actors on a stage and even if you do not believe in what you are saying, you still need to explain that perspective. Attempt to work without bias. It will creep in, no doubt, but try not to let it. Let the kids make up their own minds. I know it is what I want for my own future kids – to weigh the ideas presented to them and have the courage and conviction to decide for themselves what to agree with and what to believe.

Honestly, I could go on for hours because I feel so passionate about this topic. The reason I am so uppity about it today is because one of our teachers blatantly said to students in a lesson that global warming is a money-making scam for the government. If we all just agreed that this warming period is merely a natural warming phase that the earth goes through, then everything would be fine. Literally. This particular teacher stated that developing nations cannot develop because of the restrictions on non-renewable resources and thus the people are going hungry, etc. (Note: this particular teacher is of the “young earth” philosophy, yet, somehow, global warming is a natural phase that happens every few tens of thousands of years… I guess that contradiction in personal philosophy has not been pointed out yet?) It drives me insane that this teacher has been getting away with it and our administration has, so far, not cared. There are now about 100 students who think it is all a hoax.

The thing is… if they want to think it is a hoax, and that is what their parents believe, and that is what their pastors believe, that is FINE. But science teachers are not the parents, not the pastors… so to “teach” something so directly against what science is saying…. I cannot explain how angry it makes me.

Ultimately, leave your agenda at home. Teach science. That is what I would want for my kids, and I want to give every parent the right to educate their student as they see fit. If what I explain as science’s perspective does not jive with their personal philosophy, then the parent should set the kid straight.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.