| Plateaux | Dates | Pedagogy: https://iiraorg.com/carbon-trail/ |
| ctN1 | 1.7 million yrs | Inquiry into the prehistory control and use of fire |
| ctN2 | 12000 BC | Examination of fire as the hearth and religious focus of early cities |
| ctN3 | 3500 BC | Learning about the earliest uses of coal in society |
| ctN4 | 400 BC | Learning about ancient city thermodynamic processes (e.g., Rome) |
| ctN5 | 1780 AD | Inquiry into the nature of the steam engine |
| ctN6 | 1850 AD | Examination of the uses and deployment of oil |