New climate Web site designed for kids

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Climate Change is a big topic right now. Congress is debating on legislation to limit carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

The science of climate change is complex, but one university is trying to make it easier for kids to understand.

Purdue University Climate Professor Dev Niyogi said, "Climate Change isn't exactly a simple topic."

Purdue University has created a Web site resource dedicated for teachers and students of K-12 schools.

"There were fewer activities that engaged teachers and or students in using actual scientific data and are looking at data based projections," said Dr. Daniel Shepardson from Purdue University.

Putting climate change information on a Web site is one thing, but putting information in a way that kids can understand it is a bit more challenging.

The Web site contains lesson planners for teachers and power point presentations to help teachers illustrate the science. In addition, it has organized activities for students to use with questions based on climate science data.

Dr. Shepardson said, "We did a field test, and based on the field test results, the ease of use is there, and teachers find them easy to use, students enjoy working through them."

"The earth can get too hot, and we want it to stay green and that you shouldn't try to stop it yourself because that could make it worse", said George Henss, a 5th grade student.

Lori Feliciano's 5th grade class is learning about global warming. She says the subject can be tough for kids, and that sites like Purdue's could make it a lot easier.

"The earth can get too hot, and we want it to stay green and that you shouldn't try to stop it yourself because that could make it worse", said George Henss, a 5th grade student.

"I think the hardest thing to do is to find resources that are developmentally appropriate for kids that age because you have them trying to find research on their own and googling global warming, you just never know what you are going to come up with," said Feliciano.

That's because the science of global warming offers as many questions as it does answers. Politics cloud the issue as well, which makes the Web site even harder to assemble.

Professor Niyogi said, "Trying to put this into a climate science-centered curriculum rather than taking a biased view of info has been our guiding light here."

Click here to check out the Web site .