What is a Model?

Little Shop of Physics, Colorado State University

In this interactive activity students will create a very simple climate model. They use worksheets, chips/tokens, and follow rules for heat exchange. The activity only models temperature but there are instructions for adaptations of the model, such as rule changes for an atmosphere with increased levels of CO2.

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Notes from our reviewers

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Teachers may want to try the activity on their own to get a sense of how the model works before using it with students. Depending on baseline knowledge, there may need to be some scaffolding or modification done for middle school audiences.
Students are building a basic climate model for two different atmospheric conditions (one is regular and the other is increase carbon dioxide). Climate models start with basic physical theories: How air moves, how water behaves, how radiation transports energy. They then break the earth's atmosphere down into piecesâcellsâand then compute what happens in each cell based on these physical theories. Comments from expert scientist: Scientific strengths: Engaging active learning opportunity for the underlying concepts and functions of climate modeling. Suggestions: Add evidence or supporting information for the physical basis of the model, heat exchange ratios, provide outcomes or teacher notes. Provide initital conditions for temperature and tokens; describe "intitial/revised" = "contemporary / increased CO2".