This video shows how an increase of carbon dioxide in the air has lead to more pollen production, exacerbating seasonal allergies.
Students will learn that as pollen levels increase, asthma and other respiratory health problems will become more frequent and more severe.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This video teaches students about an interesting and lesser-known side effect of carbon dioxide emissions.
Elegant illustrations and high quality production value make this video fun to watch.
Additional Prerequisites
This video begins with an advertisement.
Differentiation
Biology or general science classes could use this video in a unit about the respiratory system.
Health classes could research the types of health risks associated with increased pollen as well as solutions to seasonal allergies and make public service posters to display in the school.
Other resources on this topic include this video on the negative effects of increased carbon dioxide levels, this video that explains how trees can store carbon, and the American Lung Association's2021 State of the Air Report.
Scientist Notes
Climate change is directly affecting people's health. Because carbon dioxide is a vital component of photosynthesis, increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide are causing plants to produce more pollen. This is leading to a positive feedback where more and more pollen is created each year by the plants, in turn making allergies worse for people. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Science
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
6.ESS3.5 Ask clarifying questions based on evidence about the factors that have caused climate change over the past century.
LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
5.LS1.1 Support an argument that plants get the materials they need for growth chiefly from air and water.
6.LS1.5 Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.
