Greenhouse gases (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe how greenhouse gases trap heat around Earth.
Key learning points
- The atmosphere is a mixture of gases around Earth.
- Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that makes up about 0.04% of the atmosphere and is released when we burn fuels.
- Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap heat that warms Earth.
- Increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere raises average temperatures on Earth.
- 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.
Teacher tip
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.
Equipment
Children will need to the worksheet for research.
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.Three things are needed for burning to occur: heat, oxygen and a .
Q2.Which of the following are fuels that we use in our everyday lives?
Q3.How are fossil fuels made?
Q4.What is the atmosphere?
Q5.Which gas in the air is used during burning?
Q6.Which of these graphs shows temperature increasing over time?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Greenhouses are designed to let sunlight in and trap inside.
Q2.Greenhouse gases form a layer around __________.
Q3.Which greenhouse gas is released when fossil fuels are burned?
Q4.What percentage of the atmosphere does carbon dioxide make up?
Q5.What happens to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere as we burn more fossil fuels?
Q6.Temperature data provides evidence that over the last 50 years …
To help you plan your 5 science lesson on: Greenhouse gases (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 science lesson on: Greenhouse gases (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability), 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.
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