The impacts of climate change on Tuvalu
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain why some people in Tuvalu are at risk of becoming displaced due to climate change.
Key learning points
- Tuvalu is a low elevation coastal zone.
- Building coastal defences for small island nations can be challenging due to their low elevation.
- The residents of Tuvalu could become displaced as a consequence of climate change.
- A displaced person is someone who is forced to move due to something outside their control such as flooding.
Keywords
Climate change - large-scale, long-term change in the planet’s climate, including weather patterns and average temperature
Sea level - the average height reached by the sea or an ocean, measured between high tide and low tide
Elevation - the height of a geographical feature or location above the mean sea level
To be displaced - to be forced to move due to something outside human control such as flooding
Common misconception
That sea level is constantly the same and that elevation is the same as height in general.
Sea level changes with the tides; the measure that we use as a baseline is the mean (average) sea level. This is used to calculate elevation of geographical features; sea level is taken as zero and every 1 metre in height is 1 metre above sea level.
Teacher tip
Have a class 'sweep' to guess what your location's elevation is. You can find out your elevation exactly using a phone app or the internet. Encourage students to think about the local topography and landscape when making their guesses. How high above sea level are you? Who guessed closest?
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.__________ is the large-scale, long-term change in the planet’s climate, including weather patterns and average temperature.
Q2.What is coastal flooding?
Q3.What are coral reefs made of?
Q4.What is the main process that wears away the coastline?
Q5.What is one of the main impacts of rising sea levels on coastal areas?
Q6.Tuvalu is located in which ocean?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is the main climate change threat faced by Tuvalu?
Q2.How do rising sea levels affect Tuvalu?
Q3.How does climate change impact Tuvalu’s freshwater supply?
Q4.__________ is the average height reached by the sea or an ocean, measured between high tide and low tide.
To help you plan your 7 geography lesson on: The impacts of climate change on Tuvalu, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 geography lesson on: The impacts of climate change on Tuvalu, 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 geography lessons from the Coasts: what shapes life at the coast? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.