Consumption and climate change
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how consumption of resources contributes to climate change and identify solutions to reduce impact.
Key learning points
- More greenhouse gases means more insulation of the planet, causing global warming.
- Human energy and food consumption can worsen global warming.
- Individual consumer choices, innovative farming practices and government policies can reduce global warming.
- The UK committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 81% by 2035, compared to 1990 levels.
Keywords
Consumption - the process of using up resources
Climate change - a large-scale and long-term change in the planet’s climate, including weather patterns and average temperatures
Greenhouses gas - gases in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat
Common misconception
Methane from cow flatulence causes global warming.
Ruminant animals (like cows and sheep) produce methane during digestion, 90–95% of this is released through eructation (burping). Methane is a greenhouse gas, which insulates our planet.
Teacher tip
Homework: ask students to calculate their carbon footprint using an online calculator and identifiy ways in which they will reduce their carbon footprint in the next week.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Solar power is an example of a resource.
Q2.What does the phrase "extraction of resources" mean?
Q3.Why is overconsumption a problem?
Q4.Which of these is a sustainable action?
Q5.What does sustainable development try to balance?
Q6.Which of these is a challenge with natural resource use?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the keyword to its definition:
The process of using up resources
Long-term change in the planet’s climate
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere
Q2.What causes climate change?
Q3.Which of the following is a greenhouse gas?
Q4.Why is it incorrect to say cow flatulence is the main source of methane?
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: Consumption and climate change, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: Consumption and 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 geography lessons from the Natural resources: Can Earth meet our needs? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.