More About This Resource...

• This classroom activity gives students a firsthand look at how the color of a surface influences its ability to reflect or absorb heat. The printable five-page handout includes:

  • A series of inquiry-based questions to get students thinking about what they already know about albedo, a surface's ability to reflect or absorb heat.
  • Detailed experiment directions.
  • A worksheet that helps students use the experiment results to obtain insight into which areas of the globe reflect more solar radiation and why snow-capped Antarctica isn't sweltering.

• Completion Time

  Approximately 1 period

• Topic

  Earth Science

• Subtopic

  Climate/Climate Change

• Subtopic

  National Science Education Standards
  Grades 5-8:
  Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A: 

  • abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry• understanding about scientific inquiry

  Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B: 

  • properties and changes of properties in matter• motions and forces• transfer of energy

  Earth and Space Science CONTENT STANDARD D: 

  • structure of the earth system

  History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G: 

  • nature of science

  Grades 9-12:
  Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A: 

  • abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry• understanding about scientific inquiry

  Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B: 

  • structure and properties of matter• motions and forces• interactions of energy and matter

  Earth and Space Science CONTENT STANDARD D: 

  • energy in the earth system

  History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G: 

  • nature of scientific knowledge

• Learning Standard

  National Science Education Standards
  Grades 5-8:
  Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A: 

  • abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry• understanding about scientific inquiry

  Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B: 

  • properties and changes of properties in matter• motions and forces• transfer of energy

  Earth and Space Science CONTENT STANDARD D: 

  • structure of the earth system

  History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G: 

  • nature of science

  Grades 9-12:
  Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A: 

  • abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry• understanding about scientific inquiry

  Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B: 

  • structure and properties of matter• motions and forces• interactions of energy and matter

  Earth and Space Science CONTENT STANDARD D: 

  • energy in the earth system

  History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G: 

  • nature of scientific knowledge