New
New
Year 5

Greenhouse gases (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)

I can describe how greenhouse gases trap heat around Earth.

New
New
Year 5

Greenhouse gases (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)

I can describe how greenhouse gases trap heat around Earth.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The atmosphere is a mixture of gases around Earth.
  2. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that makes up about 0.04% of the atmosphere and is released when we burn fuels.
  3. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap heat that warms Earth.
  4. Increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere raises average temperatures on Earth.
  5. Temperature data shows evidence of Earth warming up more quickly in the last 50 years.

Keywords

  • Carbon dioxide - Carbon dioxide is a type of gas found in Earth’s atmosphere.

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

  • Temperature - Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold something is.

  • Evidence - Evidence is information which helps us to prove that something is true or not true.

  • Climate change - Climate change is when the long-term weather patterns change.

Common misconception

Pupils often think that global warming means that the weather is getting warmer everywhere.

Emphasise that not everywhere gets warmer all the time. Some places might experience colder weather, more storms, or other changes in climate.

Provide clarity on the definition of climate change. Encourage children to link human-produced greenhouse gases, not only with global warming but with other changes to the climate.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Children will need to the worksheet for research.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Three things are needed for burning to occur: heat, oxygen and a .
Correct Answer: Fuel
Q2.
Which of the following are fuels that we use in our everyday lives?
Correct answer: petrol
plastic
glass
Correct answer: wood
Q3.
How are fossil fuels made?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Over millions of years from fossilised plants and animals buried under Earth.
By grinding fossilised plants and animals.
By burning fossilised plants and animals.
Q4.
What is the atmosphere?
Correct answer: A mixture of gases that surround Earth.
The outer rocky part of Earth.
The water that covers part of Earth's surface.
Q5.
Which gas in the air is used during burning?
An image in a quiz
nitrogen
carbon dioxide
Correct answer: oxygen
Q6.
Which of these graphs shows temperature increasing over time?
a
Correct answer: b
c

6 Questions

Q1.
Greenhouses are designed to let sunlight in and trap inside.
An image in a quiz
carbon dioxide
air
Correct answer: heat
light
Q2.
Greenhouse gases form a layer around __________.
Correct answer: Earth
Earth's core
the Sun
the Moon
Q3.
Which greenhouse gas is released when fossil fuels are burned?
An image in a quiz
nitrous oxide
oxygen
Correct answer: carbon dioxide
carbon monoxide
Q4.
What percentage of the atmosphere does carbon dioxide make up?
An image in a quiz
about 20%
more than 50%
less than 75%
Correct answer: less than 1%
Q5.
What happens to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere as we burn more fossil fuels?
it decreases
it stays the same
Correct answer: it increases
Q6.
Temperature data provides evidence that over the last 50 years …
Earth’s average temperature has decreased, it has got cooler.
Correct answer: Earth’s average temperature has not changed.
Earth’s average temperature has increased, it has got warmer.

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