Carbon cycle and climate change
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Threads
Why this why now
This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Earth's resources, where they explored how natural resources are utilised and the importance of sustainable management. It deepens their understanding by examining the carbon cycle and its role in climate change, focusing on human impacts such as carbon emissions. This prepares pupils for the next unit, Atmosphere and changing climate, where they will apply their knowledge to explore the composition and evolution of Earth’s atmosphere and the ongoing impacts of climate change.
Prior knowledge requirements
- Rocks may contain sand, grit, bits of seashell, fossils or crystals.
- Sedimentary rocks contain distinct grains that are stuck together.
- Sedimentary rocks may contain fragments of shell or fossils, or larger pieces of grit or pebbles cemented together.
- Igneous rocks contain crystals that point in many directions.
- Metamorphic rocks contain large crystals that all line up.
- Most rocks are a mixture of one or more types of mineral, or of fragments of other rocks and fossils.
- Burning coal, oil or gas in power stations makes carbon dioxide gas and other pollutants.
Threads
Why this why now
This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Earth's resources, where they explored how natural resources are utilised and the importance of sustainable management. It deepens their understanding by examining the carbon cycle and its role in climate change, focusing on human impacts such as carbon emissions. This prepares pupils for the next unit, Atmosphere and changing climate, where they will apply their knowledge to explore the composition and evolution of Earth’s atmosphere and the ongoing impacts of climate change.
Prior knowledge requirements
- Rocks may contain sand, grit, bits of seashell, fossils or crystals.
- Sedimentary rocks contain distinct grains that are stuck together.
- Sedimentary rocks may contain fragments of shell or fossils, or larger pieces of grit or pebbles cemented together.
- Igneous rocks contain crystals that point in many directions.
- Metamorphic rocks contain large crystals that all line up.
- Most rocks are a mixture of one or more types of mineral, or of fragments of other rocks and fossils.
- Burning coal, oil or gas in power stations makes carbon dioxide gas and other pollutants.
Chemistry
Carbon cycle and climate change
This unit explores the rock cycle and the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. It also examines the atmosphere's composition, human-induced carbon dioxide production, and its impact on climate. Focus is on interpreting data, identifying patterns, and presenting explanations.
7 lessons in unit
slide decks, worksheet PDFs, quizzes and lesson overviews. You can select individual lessons from the Carbon cycle and climate change unit and download the resources you need, or download the entire unit now. See every unit listed in our secondary science curriculum and discover more of our teaching resources for secondary science programmes.