Climate change

• Geography
• Science
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)

Introduction

Climate change is the defining issue of our time. We have reached a pivotal moment in deciding out planet's future. But what is climate change and its effect on the planet and on us? And what can we do for our collective future?

Instructions

General learning objectives

- The pupils get to know about climate change, global warming and greenhouse gases.

- The pupils will be able to identify and describe the impact climate change has on the world an our daily life.

- The pupils learn ways to take action for our planet.

Materials required

- Mobile phones (optional)

Background information

More information about climate change, global warming and greenhouse gases.

Climate change 

Climate change

Activity to see what the pupils already know about climate change.

Teaching format: pupils can answer questions on their phones. This exercise will also work without phones, by writing the answers on the interactive whiteboard (click on the pencil icon).

Weather

Climate

Climate change

The average weather patterns over a longer period (over 30 years at least).

How the characteristics of the weather we experience in a certain place change. 

Atmospheric conditions, such as rain or snow, happening in a place at a specific moment in time.

Pupils will be able to use the definitions correctly and understand their meaning with text.

Global warming is not just about temperature.

In some cases... 

places are becoming colder. 

places are becoming hotter.

places are becoming drier.

places are becoming wetter.

                       is not just about temperature.

In some cases... 

Global warming

Global warming is a term used interchangeably with climate change, although the latter is preferred because the warming atmosphere and oceans are just some of the effects we see.

Discuss global warming with the pupils

Greenhouse gases there is a lot we know.
But one is incorrect, which one?

They are the main driver of the current climate change

The most important gases are Carbon dioxide and methane

Greenhouse gases release heat into our atmosphere

Studying them gives us a scientific understanding on how the planet would warm as a result of emissions

These are primarily released when fossil fuels are burnt

Since the mid-nineteenth century, the world has emitted over 2.2 trillion tonnes of carbon dioxide

Introduces greenhouse gases to the pupils by asking them which of the answers is incorrect. Afterwards discuss the answers with them, for example did they know all these fact, was there one that they did not know yet? On the next slide you wil get into the greenhouse effect and how it works.

The Greenhouse Effect

Some sunlight that hits the Earth is reflected back into space,     while the rest       becomes heat.

Greenhouse gases prevent heat from excaping into space. This causes more heat to be kept near Earth's surface, warming our world.

Dr Joeri Rogelj, 

Climate scientist  

Imperial College London Grantham Institute

With this image you can explain The Greenhouse Effect to the puplis.

Effects of climate change

Pretty much any weather event is influenced by climate change. As scientists we can estimate how much climate change  has made a certain event more likely or more intense than it would have been without climate change.

Cases of climate change

Let the pupils discuss which are the cases and which are the effects of climate change. 

Afterwards you can aske them if they can explain why it is a cases or an effect.

(By clicking on the picture it shows on full screen) 

'We have distanced ourselves so far from nature that we forget that we are a part of it - that we are completely dependent on it.'

The climate has changed continually throughout Earth's history because of natural causes. But today's climate change is caused by human activities.

Greta Thunberg, 

Swedish climate activist

The effects climate change has on us

Urban populations usually rely on rural areas for inputs such as food and water. If climate change disrupts these important connections, it could heavily affect those in urban areas.

Natural disasters impact poor and vulnerable populations disproportionately hard and expose the consequences of ignoring social inequalities. With extreme weather increasing, these populations face a heightened level of risk.

With longer-lasting drought reservoirs are drying up, as well as the loss of glaciers, which could make drinking water scarce. The drought could devastate crops, threating food security.

Around 190 million people currently live in areas that, due to rising sea levels, are expected to be under high tide levels by 2100. This could cause a massive displacement of populations.

Discuss the effects the effect climate change can have on us (now and in the future)

In this video the pupils meet young climate activists. They tell us why and how the take action for the planet.

In the next slide you will discuss what the pupils think they can do themselves.

What can you do
to take action?

Find out what the pupils think they can do for the planet. Discuss the answers afterward. 

Find out of there are pupils in the class that already doing something for the planet. This way the pupils can inspire each other to take action.

(On the next slides you will find some images to represent topics/areas where we can take action)

Travel responsibly

Make your voice heard

Use and support science

Reduce waste

Protect and enjoy green spaces

Reduce energy use

Eat sustainably

Watch what you buy

An image to show some examples of what we can do ourselves to help the planet.

This can help pupils to get even more ideas on how and in which areas they can take action.

'When we are facing such an existential emergency like the climate crisis, it's very important that everyone steps up.'

Greta Thunberg, 

Swedish climate activist