New
New
Year 6

Reducing our carbon footprint (non-statutory)

I can explain what a carbon footprint is and how we can reduce it.

New
New
Year 6

Reducing our carbon footprint (non-statutory)

I can explain what a carbon footprint is and how we can reduce it.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to warmer temperatures on Earth.
  2. A carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of greenhouse gases that are released when we do everyday things.
  3. The measure of a carbon footprint includes what we eat, how we travel, how often we buy new things, and much more.
  4. Everyone can take action to reduce their carbon footprint.

Common misconception

Pupils may think their carbon footprint relates only to air pollution that can be seen, such as smoke or soot.

Explain that greenhouse gases cannot be seen, smelled or tasted; just because we cannot see them, it doesn’t mean they are not in the air around us.

Keywords

  • Greenhouse gases - Gases which contribute towards global warming are called greenhouse gases.

  • Fossil fuel - 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.

  • Action - An action is something that is done.

  • Carbon footprint - A carbon footprint is a measure of how much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released when we do everyday things.

  • Reduce - To reduce something means to decrease the amount of it.

Online carbon footprint calculators can be used to give pupils an idea of their carbon footprint in numerical form. Be sure to test out any calculator shared with pupils in advance to check the questions are those they will likely be able to answer and are meaningful to children of their age.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None required.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following are fossil fuels?
wind
water
Correct answer: crude oil
Correct answer: coal
Correct answer: coal
Q2.
Burning fossil fuels…
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: can harm the planet.
is good for the planet.
has no impact on the planet.
Q3.
Fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal and crude oil contain...
Correct Answer: carbon
Q4.
gases are gases which help to maintain the temperature of Earth.
Correct Answer: Greenhouse
Q5.
True or false? We need some greenhouse gases around planet earth.
Correct answer: true
false
Correct answer: Otherwise Earth would be too cold to support life.
Greenhouse gases are toxic.
Q6.
What is the name of energy sources which will not run out?
An image in a quiz
non-reusable
reusable
Correct answer: renewable
non-renewable

6 Questions

Q1.
How does carbon dioxide in the atmosphere lead to warmer temperatures on Earth?
it makes it sunnier.
Correct answer: it traps heat
it causes fires
Q2.
Which of these would reduce the amount of greenhouse gases entering the environment?
eating meat more often
Correct answer: burning less fossil fuel
buying more new products
eating less locally grown food
Q3.
A footprint is a measure of how much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released when we do everyday things.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: carbon
Q4.
Which of the following are included in your carbon footprint?
Correct answer: what you eat
whether you sing or not
Correct answer: how you travel
how much you go running
Q5.
Which of the following have a large carbon footprint?
Correct answer: food that has been transported from the local farm to your house
food that has been transported from another country to your house
Correct answer: single use plastic products
multiple use products made from recycled materials
Q6.
Who is responsible for people’s carbon footprint?
An image in a quiz
Politicians are the only people responsible for carbon footprints.
Scientists are the only people responsible for carbon footprints.
Correct answer: Everyone is responsible for carbon footprints.
No one is responsible for carbon footprints.