New
New
Year 5

Using energy wisely

I can identify ways to reduce use of fossil fuels and explain why this matters.

New
New
Year 5

Using energy wisely

I can identify ways to reduce use of fossil fuels and explain why this matters.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Energy use (electricity, heat and transport) account for more than 60% of carbon emissions.
  2. Monitoring electricity usage around the school, i.e. where appliances are left on or on standby, can reduce energy use.
  3. Generating renewable energy creates far lower emissions than burning fossil fuels.

Keywords

  • Transport - Transport is a way of travelling between places.

  • Inequality - Inequality is when something is not shared evenly between everyone.

  • Renewable - Renewable means that something can be re-used and will not be used up or run out.

  • Energy - Energy is the power used to make things work.

Common misconception

Some children may think that net zero means zero carbon emissions.

Net zero actually refers to a state in which the greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by their removal out of the atmosphere.

Children could further monitor the energy they have saved by graphing electricity consumption using meter readings. There are also lots of brilliant carbon cutting projects and schemes that schools can sign up to including Cut Your Carbon, The Pod’s Switch off fortnight and Walk to School Week.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Carbon is important because it can the greenhouse effect.
Correct answer: increase
improve
decrease
Q2.
All continents create the same amount of greenhouse gases. Is this true or false?
Correct Answer: false, not true
Q3.
What effect have humans had on the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has decreased.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has remained the same.
Correct answer: The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased.
Q4.
Which continent produces the least carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels?
North America
Asia
Correct answer: Africa
Q5.
Match the keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:carbon footprint,a measure of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere

a measure of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere

Correct Answer:fossil fuels,ancient plant and animal remains used to burn for energy

ancient plant and animal remains used to burn for energy

Correct Answer:carbon dioxide,a greenhouse gas

a greenhouse gas

Q6.
Which actions will reduce your carbon footprint?
Correct answer: walking or cycling
using the car
Correct answer: recycling waste

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the key word to its definition.
Correct Answer:energy,the power used to make things work

the power used to make things work

Correct Answer:renewable ,something can be re-used and will not be used up or run out

something can be re-used and will not be used up or run out

Correct Answer:non-renewable,something that is finite and will eventually run out

something that is finite and will eventually run out

Q2.
Which of these are fossil fuels?
Correct answer: natural gas
wood
water
Correct answer: oil
Correct answer: coal
Q3.
Fossil fuels like oil, coal and natural gas are dug up and burnt to generate .
Correct Answer: energy, power
Q4.
An increase in greenhouse gases causes
Correct answer: an increase in global temperatures
no change to global temperatures
a decrease in global temperatures
Q5.
Why do fossil fuels have an important role in global sustainability?
Correct answer: their use increases the amount of CO² in the atmosphere
their use keeps CO² stable in the atmosphere
their use decreases the amount of CO² in the atmosphere
Q6.
Do all places emit the same amount of CO² from burning fossil fuels?
An image in a quiz
No - most people in poorer countries emit more carbon dioxide,
Yes - people in all places emit carbon dioxide equally.
Correct answer: No - most people in richer countries emit more carbon dioxide.
Q6 CC-BY-4.0 OurWorldInData.org. Data source: Global Carbon Budget (2023)