The Greenhouses Affect

Recently, in the news programs on TV channels, we frequently come across news such as the melting of glaciers, weather events such as sudden and heavy rains and storms, the increase in atmospheric temperature and the increase in forest fires. At the same time, we observe some of these events in our immediate surroundings. There is also a sentence frequently mentioned by the public: the seasons are changing. The students asked questions such as why all these events occur and what has changed between the past and the present.

We all know that they need to understand global warming in order to understand these changes, but as a science teacher, I guided them on how to achieve this so that they can have the ability to use experimental methods within the project-based learning approach. They first conducted a preliminary literature review and then designed an experiment. In the experiment, they tested the hypothesis that the water inside a glass bowl covered with black cardboard heats up more than the transparent glass bowl. Thus, they tried to investigate the impact of greenhouse gases on climate change.

 In the experiment, two glass bell jars were used to represent the atmospheric layer. The inside of one of them was covered with pieces cut from black cardboard at intervals. Black cardboard was used to represent greenhouse gases because black color absorbs light. The same amount of water was filled into two beakers of the same size. A thermometer was placed inside them and the bell jars were turned upside down on the beakers and closed. Two thermometers were used to measure the temperature of the water in the beakers. The first mechanism (not coated) is also the control group. The second device (covered with black cardboard) is the experimental group.

 In the experiment and observation phase, the independent variable is the bell jars and the dependent variable is the water temperature. Control variables are bell jar size, beaker size, amount of water and environmental conditions. After the installation of the mechanisms, the initial temperature of the water was measured and recorded. The students carried out this research by placing the mechanisms in a sunny place on a sunny day. They recorded the data in tables they prepared at certain time intervals.

Later, they shared the results with the participants at the science festival. Thus, they tried to explain the causes of the global warming problem and draw attention to the necessary measures to prevent this problem.