Climate change and photosynthesis
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how photosynthesis and food security could be affected by climate change.
Key learning points
- Predictions about effects of factors such as temperature and availability of water and CO2 on rate of photosynthesis.
- Photosynthesis in producers creates the biomass for food chains, which all consumers (including humans) depend on.
- Climate change and global warming affect the temperature and the availability of water.
- Rising temperatures, droughts and floods will reduce the yields of crop plants that feed farm animals and humans.
- Different regions of the world and the people living there will be affected in different ways.
Keywords
Prediction - A scientific prediction is a testable statement about a possible outcome.
Limiting factor - A condition that, when in short supply, slows down or limits the rate of a process such as photosynthesis.
Enzyme - An enzyme is a functional protein that acts as a biological catalyst to speed up chemical reactions.
Food security - Food security is having reliable access to enough safe and nutritious food to meet the needs of the human population.
Climate change - Climate change is a long-term shift in weather patterns.
Common misconception
Thinking that an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide will be beneficial by increasing photosynthesis and producing more food.
The lesson explores why the negative effects of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide outweigh any benefits from increased rate of photosynthesis.
Teacher tip
This lesson is synpotic on various key ideas from GCSE biology, including the reactants and products of photosynthesis, effects of various factors on the rate, the idea of limiting factors, enzymes, and the absorption and use of nitrate ions.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following are producers in a food chain?
Q2.Which word equation describes photosynthesis?
Q3.What is an enzyme?
Q4.What does the word 'optimum' mean?
Q5.Which of these are greenhouse gases?
Q6.The rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction __________ as the temperature increases up to the optimum.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.As atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration increases, which are likely outcomes?
Q2.Starting with human activities, sort these statements by cause and effect.
Q3.Nitrogen is absorbed through the roots by active transport. Match the terms to the definitions about transporting molecules.
the movement of particles from high to low concentration
the movement of water from high to low concentration across a membrane
energy is used to move particles against the concentration gradient
Q4.What is the term describing an enzyme which has changed shape due to extreme pH or temperature?
Q5.Predict what will happen to the rate of photosynthesis if there is low rainfall for 2 months over summer.
Q6.Which reason explains why flooding or drought will cause human food insecurity?
To help you plan your 11 combined science lesson on: Climate change and photosynthesis, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 combined science lesson on: Climate change and photosynthesis, 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 4 combined science lessons from the Photosynthesis: factors affecting the rate unit, dive into the full secondary combined science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.