Evidence for global warming
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe some evidence that global warming is caused by human activity
Key learning points
- Global surface temperatures are calculated from tens of thousands of measurements worldwide
- Temperatures are compared with the long-term average for each region
- Since the industrial revolution, in the 1850s, overall global surface temperatures have been increasing
- Evidence from trees rings and ice cores provides data of longer-term changes in temperature
- Scientists can explain how increased levels of greenhouse gases contribute to global warming
Keywords
Global warming - an increase in Earth’s average surface temperature
Global surface temperature - the average temperature of all the places on Earth’s surface
Tree rings - a pattern of rings on the cross-section of tree trunk showing the yearly growth of the tree
Ice core - a long cylinder of ice drilled out of an ice sheet or glacier
Greenhouse gases - gases in the atmosphere that keep it warmer than it would be without them
Common misconception
Reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases will lower the global surface temperature.
Discuss the effect of adding greenhouse gases more slowly to what is already in the atmosphere. Task B is helpful for consolidating a better understanding of this.
Teacher tip
'Rate of change' is a challenging concept for many pupils and is not necessary here. Instead, be clear that Earth's global surface temperature is dependent on the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and then consider how alterning greenhouse gas emissions effects this.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is global warming?
Q2.What human activities produce lots of carbon dioxide emissions?
Q3.What has happened to the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since the industrial revolution in the 1850s?
Q4.Match each word or phrase with its definition.
Q5.Which of these is not caused by climate change?
Q6.Which of these an example of climate change?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How often to automatic weather stations record the temperature?
Q2.What is global surface temperature?
Q3.Which of these can be used to work out temperatures in the years before measurements were taken?
Q4.What can be used to measure the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere thousands of years ago?
Q5.What would reducing carbon dioxide emissions do to the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Q6.A model of a bath filling with water can represent the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Match each part of the model with what it represents.
To help you plan your 8 science lesson on: Evidence for global warming, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 science lesson on: Evidence for global warming, 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 3 science lessons from the Climate change and greenhouse gases unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.