What actions can we take to address climate change?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can critically examine different arguments about climate change and explain what actions we can take to address climate change.
Key learning points
- Global warming is the process of our planet heating up. Global warming has led to climate change.
- There are significant consequences of climate change that impact our global environment.
- Activists have campaigned in different ways to highlight the impacts of climate change.
- Some sceptics doubt global warming science, but the IPCC says 97% of scientists agree humans are mainly causing it.
Keywords
Climate change - the long-term changes in the Earth's weather patterns and temperatures, often caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation and pollution
Global warming - the gradual increase in Earth's average temperature; caused by human activities that release gases, such as carbon dioxide, that trap heat in the atmosphere
Fossil fuels - energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas that release harmful gases into the atmosphere
Deforestation - the cutting down or clearing of trees and forests, usually for farming, logging or development
Common misconception
Climate change is just a natural part of Earth’s cycles, and humans aren't responsible for it.
While Earth’s climate has naturally changed in the past, the IPCC shows that the current rapid warming is mainly caused by human activities, like burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
Teacher tip
Encourage pupils to explore both sides of the climate change debate, but emphasize the overwhelming scientific consensus. Help them understand how organizations like the IPCC gather data and why their reports are trusted globally. This will support critical thinking while reinforcing key facts.
Equipment
Paper and pen
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the word to its definition.
an artificial material mostly made from oil or natural gas
using resources & making choices that do not harm the environment
when harmful substances or waste are released into the environment
Q2.What is this describing? The process of collecting and turning used materials into new products.
Q3.Which statement is most accurate? It is estimated that there are ...
Q4.Why do low-income countries face greater challenges in managing the impact of plastic pollution?
Q5.Put these actions taken by the UK Government in chronological order from when they were introduced.
Q6.Which of these explain why recycling might prove a challenge?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the main cause of global warming?
Q2.Which statement best explains the relationship between humans and climate change?
Q3.Which of these is a major effect of climate change?
Q4.Which activity does not release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?
Q5.When trees are cut down for farming or development, this process is called ...
Q6.Match the word to its correct definition.
long-term changes in the Earth’s weather patterns and temperatures
a rise in Earth's average temperature from trapped heat
energy sources like coal and oil that release harmful gases
To help you plan your 8 citizenship lesson on: What actions can we take to address climate change?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 citizenship lesson on: What actions can we take to address climate change?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 citizenship lessons from the What can we do about global problems? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.