Greenhouse Effect Explained

Name:

Date:

Earth with greenhouse effect illustration

🌍 Part 1: Understanding the Greenhouse Effect

WALT: We are learning to understand how the Earth stays warm and what the greenhouse effect is.

1. What keeps our planet Earth warm enough for life?

The moon

The greenhouse effect

The ocean

Wind

2. What happens to sunlight when it reaches Earth? (Check all that apply)

Some bounces back to space

Some gets absorbed by the ground

Some gets trapped by gases in the atmosphere

All of it disappears

3. Fill in the blanks using these words: atmosphere, heat, trapped, gases

The _____________ surrounds our Earth like a blanket. Special _____________ in the air keep _____________ from escaping back to space. This _____________ heat warms our planet.

4. What happens when too much heat gets trapped in our atmosphere?

Earth gets colder

Nothing changes

Earth gets warmer

Earth stays the same temperature

✏️ Part 2: Explaining Your Understanding

5. In your own words, explain how the greenhouse effect keeps Earth warm:

6. Why is the greenhouse effect important for life on Earth?

7. Extension Activity: Draw and label a simple diagram showing how the greenhouse effect works. Include: Sun, Earth, atmosphere, and arrows showing heat movement.

8. Think Deeper: What might happen to plants, animals, and people if Earth had no greenhouse effect at all?