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Model How Combustion Affects the Atmosphere

Updated: Feb 20

Scientists use models to explain things we observe in the world. Models can represent how or why something happens. 


You have learned a lot about what goes into the air when we burn fossil fuels during a process called combustion. Now, you will develop a model to explain how the combustion of fossil fuels affects the gases in the atmosphere. 




  1. Make a copy of the handout or get one from your teacher.

  2. Then, on your own or with a partner:

    1. Before modeling, discuss: What are the big ideas we figured out in this lesson? How should we show the big ideas in our model?

    2. Next, draw or write in words your ideas for revising our model.

    3. Review your model to make sure it includes some of the big ideas we figured out so far. Be prepared to share it with your class.

Credits

Climate Education Pathways

Copyright © 2025 BSCS Science Learning. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).

The development of this material was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DRL 2100808. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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