Life in the Greenhouse

Cover page for Life in the Greenhouse

Written and narrated by Jessica Fries-Gaither


Inside a greenhouse
Greenhouses. Photo courtesy of stock.xchng.

Have you ever been in a greenhouse ? People grow plants in a greenhouse. They can even grow them in cold weather.


Walls and roof of a greenhouse
Greenhouse 5. Photo courtesy of topfer, stock.xchng.

The roof and walls of a green house are made of glass or plastic. Sunlight can shine through.


Greenhouses
Greenhouse 1. Photo courtesy of Sundstrom, Flickr.

Inside the greenhouse, plants, soil, and air absorb the light. They heat up. The heat is trapped inside the greenhouse. It makes the greenhouse very warm inside, even in the winter!


Sunset
Sunset. Photo courtesy of stock.xchng.

Did you know that Earth is like a greenhouse? The Sun's light shines on Earth. Earth's land, air, and water absorb the light. They heat up. Earth's air traps the heat. It keeps Earth warm.


You can see this for yourself! Try this experiment! You need two glass jars, two cups of water, a clear plastic bag, two thermometers, and tape. You might also need a lamp.


Jar with water

First, fill each jar with one cup of water.


Covered jar with water

Next, place a thermometer in each jar. Put the plastic bag over one jar. Seal the bag with the tape. Take the temperature of the water in each jar.


Jars under a lamp

Put both jars in the sun or under a lamp. Leave them there for an hour. How do you think the temperature will change in each jar?


After an hour, record the temperature of the water in each jar. Which one got hotter? Why?


Covered jar with water

The water in the jar with the plastic bag got hotter. The heat was trapped inside the bag. This is like Earth's air keeping Earth warm.


Jar with water and thermometer

The other jar wasn't covered up. The heat could escape. The water in the jar didn't get as hot.


Earth
Earth. Photo courtesy of NASA, visibleearth.nasa.gov.

Earth's air is important. It keeps our planet just right for us!


Back cover of Life in the Greenhouse