New
New
Year 9

Our future climate

I can describe how the climate may change in the future and what the impacts could be.

New
New
Year 9

Our future climate

I can describe how the climate may change in the future and what the impacts could be.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Climate models predict rising temperatures and more extreme weather.
  2. Sea levels are expected to rise due to melting ice and thermal expansion.
  3. Some regions may face drought, while others experience more flooding.
  4. Climate change may increase migration and conflict over resources.
  5. Actions taken now will influence how severe future climate change becomes.

Keywords

  • Climate model - a computer program that uses maths and science to predict how Earth’s climate might change in the future

  • Extreme weather - a severe weather event or any weather significantly different from the average

  • Food security - when people have regular access to enough safe, nutritious food to live healthy lives

  • Migration - moving from one place to another with the intention of staying there

Common misconception

Climate change is going to cause the planet to get hotter and drier.

The planet is getting hotter. Some places are going to get hotter whereas some places are going to get wetter.


To help you plan your year 9 geography lesson on: Our future climate, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Ask students what extreme weather they have experienced and build on the fact it is more likely due to climate change.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their correct definition:

Correct Answer:Anthropocene,Era where humans have major impact on Earth

Era where humans have major impact on Earth

Correct Answer:Climate change,Long-term shift in temperatures and weather

Long-term shift in temperatures and weather

Correct Answer:Biodiversity,Variety of life in the world or a habitat

Variety of life in the world or a habitat

Correct Answer:Carbon footprint,Amount of CO₂ released by a person or group

Amount of CO₂ released by a person or group

Q2.
What can a high carbon footprint lead to?

Decreased rainfall
Increased biodiversity
Correct answer: More greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
Less pollution

Q3.
The Anthropocene is thought to have started after the Revolution.

Correct Answer: Industrial

Q4.
Which of the following is a major human impact on the environment?

Erosion from rivers
Correct answer: Rising sea levels due to melting ice
Earthquakes along plate boundaries
Volcanoes near destructive boundaries

Q5.
Why is biodiversity important to Earth’s ecosystems?

It makes farming easier
It increases pollution
Correct answer: It supports natural balance and resilience
It makes the land unstable

Q6.
What does a low carbon footprint suggest?

Correct answer: Less environmental impact
More cars and planes used
Higher emissions
More burning of fossil fuels

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions:

Correct Answer:Climate model,Program used to predict future climate

Program used to predict future climate

Correct Answer:Extreme weather,Unusual or severe weather event

Unusual or severe weather event

Correct Answer:Food security,Regular access to enough safe food

Regular access to enough safe food

Correct Answer:Migration,Moving to live in a different place

Moving to live in a different place

Q2.
Climate change may affect food , making it harder to feed people.

Correct Answer: security

Q3.
Which one of these is an effect of climate change in some places?

Less air pollution
Less extreme weather
Correct answer: Increased rainfall
Cooler global temperatures

Q4.
Some people think climate change will make the world hotter and drier. What’s wrong with this idea?

Climate change only makes it rain
Correct answer: Some places will get wetter, not just drier
The world isn’t warming
It only affects deserts