| Everyone talks about the greenhouse effect and how | | | | After you record this temperature measure the |
| our Earth and its climate are having greenhouse type | | | | degrees in the water that was not covered. |
| of effects. What does that mean? You can do a | | | | When you placed the jars in the direct sunlight the air |
| science project that will show this effect and what is | | | | inside the bag became very warm. When you have a |
| happening to our Earth. | | | | greenhouse it lets light inside which allows the sun's |
| Go to your pantry and look for these items. If you do | | | | energy and also heat. Since the heat filters in but |
| not have them you can go to your local store and get | | | | cannot escape because you have made a plastic |
| these items: | | | | barrier it stays in the enclosed area and increases the |
| - 2 glass containers that need to be the same size | | | | temperature. When you demonstrated the science |
| and shape | | | | project above you created your own greenhouse and |
| - A 1 gallon plastic storage bag | | | | showed how warm you could get the water. What if |
| - 4 cups very cold water | | | | you left that for two, three or four hours? |
| - Ice cubes | | | | Think about what is happening to the Earth. There are |
| Fill each glass container with 2 cups of the cold water. | | | | chemicals that are creating a type of plastic bag |
| Add ice cubes to each jar. You will want to put the | | | | around the Earth and it causes our air to get warmer |
| exact same amount of ice cubes in each jar. I would | | | | because of the energy of the sun creating heat and it |
| suggest 6 ice cubes in each jar. | | | | being retained in this enclosed area. |
| Put one of the jars in the plastic bag and seal it shut. | | | | Even though you did not heat the water to boiling think |
| Put both containers in the sun together and let sit for | | | | about your car in the hot summer. This is what |
| at least an hour. | | | | happens when you go in to work and leave your car |
| You are trying to create the greenhouse effect with | | | | outside all closed up all day. When you return at 3pm |
| the container in the plastic bag. | | | | the car is scorching hot. This greenhouse effect has |
| At the end of 1 hour or a little longer remove the jar | | | | caused your car to be so hot you sometimes cannot |
| from the plastic bag and immediately insert a | | | | even touch the steering wheel. |
| thermometer to measure the temperature of the | | | | This science project is a great idea about what we |
| water. | | | | are doing to our planet. |