Reducing air pollution (non-statutory)
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe how some harmful gases and small particles get in the air and harm our environment and how this can be reduced.
Key learning points
- Burning fossil fuels at home, in our cars, and in industry all cause air pollution.
- Whenever we burn fossil fuels, harmful gases and small solid particles are produced.
- Some substances produced when we burn fossil fuels can harm living things or add to greenhouse gases.
- Scientists and engineers are always investigating ways to use renewable fuel resources and reduce air pollution.
- Air pollution can be reduced by our actions, such as walking or cycling more and using less electricity.
Keywords
Air pollution - Air pollution is when harmful substances are put into the air.
Burn - When something burns, it is on fire.
Fossil fuels - A fossil fuel is a natural fuel formed from the remains of living things over millions of years, such as coal, crude oil or natural gas.
Particles - Particles are very tiny pieces of matter.
Greenhouse gas - A greenhouse gas is a gas that traps heat in the atmosphere.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that air pollution can be seen, and that there are no pollutants in the air if it looks ‘clean’.
Explain that many things that can pollute the air cannot be seen by the naked eye and air pollution can exist even when we can’t see it around us.
Teacher tip
There are many free online tools for checking local air pollution forecasts; these could be shared with pupils during the lesson and used to encourage discussion about why it might be higher in some parts of the country than others.
Equipment
None required.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.When something burns it is …
Q2.What does it mean if something is harmful?
Q3.What does it mean to reduce something?
Q4.What is a renewable source?
Q5.Which state of matter has no fixed shape or volume?
Q6.What are fossil fuels?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is air pollution?
Q2.Fossil fuels contribute to air pollution when they are in our homes and in industry.
Q3.What is produced when fossil fuels are burned?
Q4.Some gases produced when we burn fossil fuels are called gases, which contribute to global warming.
Q5.What types of professionals develop new technology that uses renewable fuel resources and will help to reduce air pollution?
Q6.Which of these actions could help to reduce air pollution?
To help you plan your 6 science lesson on: Reducing air pollution (non-statutory), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 science lesson on: Reducing air pollution (non-statutory), 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 2 science lessons from the Climate change and sustainability (non-statutory) unit, dive into the full primary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.