Due to the presence of dissolved gases such as carbon dioxide, rainfall is naturally acidic. This exercise will familiarize you with the phenomenon known as acid rain, requires that you take water samples from rainfall.

This lesson provides an introduction to the use of the sun's energy. Topics include the history of solar energy usage and its more recent adaptations. There is also discussion of how the sun produces and radiates energy and what happens when it reaches Earth.

This exercise is intended to reinforce the importance of Earth's atmosphere to living organisms. Topics include our bodies' interactions with the atmosphere; its composition and structure; and natural changes in the atmosphere (weather).

This lesson builds upon the previous two (Newton's Second Law and the First Law of Thermodynamics) by explaining that conservation of energy is not perfectly observed, in that energy is lost as it is transferred from kinetic to potential, and vice-versa.

There are two ways to reduce net emissions of carbon dioxide: limit how much carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere as we burn fossil fuels, or increase the rate at which it is absorbed. In this lesson, discussion topics include the Kyoto Protocol.

This lesson provides an introduction to the treatment of drinking water to remove harmful or distasteful substances. Topics include the history of treatment and a brief listing of treatment processes.

This lesson introduces students to the concept of ecological footprint, the overall impact of an individual on the environment. Topics include how ecological footprints are calculated, how individual footprints translate to entire nations or to the Earth.

Central to good science are accurate observations, testable hypotheses, well-designed experiments or other tests, and reasonable data analyses. The purpose of this activity is to introduce the basics of designing and analyzing experiments.

This lesson builds upon the previous one (Newton's Second Law) by introducing students to kinetic and potential energy. Topics include a brief description of these two forms of energy and a discussion of gravity as a form of potential energy.

Obesity is on the rise in the United States, due primarily to the size and composition of the American diet. Discussion topics include lack of exercise, changes in calorie intake over time, and environmental impacts of these increases in consumption.

This lesson summarizes our dependency upon fossil fuels, pointing out that there are very few aspects of our daily life that are not impacted by their use.

This lesson provides an introduction to the use of coal as an energy source. Topics include the history of coal usage, applications of coal as an energy source, and major suppliers of coal (the United States).

This lesson provides an introduction to the use of natural gas as an energy source. Topics include its advantages (cleanliness, fewer carbon emissions), disadvantages (difficulty in transport and storage), sources, and usage.

This lesson provides an introduction to the world oil market and the United States' dependence on it. Topics include our current usage, sources, and the political implications of acquiring oil from an international market.

The terms greenhouse effect, climate change, and global warming are often used interchangeably, yet they really refer to three separate and distinct processes. This activity examines all three and assesses whether Earth's atmosphere is getting warmer.

This lesson provides an introduction to the problems associated with ground-level ozone ('smog'). It reinforces the idea that ozone at ground level is harmful while that in the upper atmosphere has a beneficial effect.

In this activity, students quantify and analyze their personal contributions of smog-forming compounds due to driving. The activity builds upon the previous lesson (Ground-Level Ozone).

This lesson provides an introduction to the occurrence and possible risks of household chemical products. Topics include some basic chemistry (how elements combine to form compounds) and how chemicals are classified.

This is the second part of a two-part exercise in which students perform an audit and analysis of energy consumption in their homes. In this part, students will estimate the amount of energy they use in their homes and investigate how their lifestyle impact the environment.