Greenhouse Effect Reading Comprehension

Name:

Date:

Earth with greenhouse effect illustration

🌍 WALT: We Are Learning To understand how the Earth stays warm

Read this passage about the Greenhouse Effect:

The greenhouse effect is how our Earth stays warm enough for us to live. When sunlight comes from the sun, it travels through our atmosphere (the layer of air around Earth) and warms the ground. The warm ground then sends heat back up into the sky.

Some special gases in our atmosphere act like a blanket. They trap some of this heat and keep it close to Earth instead of letting it all escape to space. This is good because without these gases, Earth would be too cold for plants, animals, and people to survive!

However, when there are too many of these gases in the atmosphere, too much heat gets trapped. This makes Earth warmer than it should be, which can cause problems like ice melting and weather changes.

Key Words: sunlight, atmosphere, heat, gases, greenhouse, trapped, Earth

📚 Part 1: Understanding Questions

1. What happens when sunlight hits the ground?

The ground sends heat back up

The ground becomes cold

The sunlight disappears

2. What do the gases in our atmosphere act like?

A window

A blanket

A mirror

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

It keeps Earth warm enough for living things

It makes the sun brighter

It creates more oxygen

4. What can happen when there are too many greenhouse gases? (Choose all that apply)

Ice melting

Weather changes

Earth getting too warm

More sunlight reaching Earth

✏️ Part 2: Explain Your Understanding

5. Fill in the blanks using words from the passage:

The _____________ comes from the sun and warms the ground. Special _____________ in our atmosphere trap some _____________ and keep Earth warm.

6. In your own words, explain why the greenhouse effect is like a blanket:

7. What might happen to New Zealand if there were no greenhouse gases at all?

8. Extension Activity: Draw and label a simple diagram showing how the greenhouse effect works. Include: Sun, Earth, atmosphere, heat going up, and heat being trapped.

Success Criteria - I can:

☐ Explain that the greenhouse effect keeps our planet warm
☐ Describe what happens when too much heat gets trapped
☐ Show my understanding in a diagram or explanation