Climate change: Seeing is believing 11 - 16 years old
Summary information
Age range: | 11 - 16 year olds |
Curriculum links: | English, ICT |
Time needed: | Two sessions of 40 minutes |
Group size: | Pairs |
Setting: | Indoors |
Key vocabulary: | Fossil fuels, greenhouse gases, CO2, carbon dioxide, emissions, greenhouse effect, global warming, climate change, precautionary principle. |
Sustainability learning outcome(s): | Pupils will:
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Preparation:
Indicates what teachers need to know, or do, in order to facilitate the activity.
Resources needed:
Computers and PowerPoint presentation software.
Procedure:
1.Present pupils with the following statement: “Global warming isn’t really happening. Climate changes are natural and will be so gradual that we won’t really notice any difference in our lifetime. Any change that does happen is likely to improve the climate and make life more pleasant.”
2.Hold a class discussion based around the following questions:
“Could this statement be correct?”
“What sorts of evidence would scientists need to collect in order to prove that climate change is really happening?” [Think about the causes of global warming and climate change.]
“Would it be in the interests of any particular group to deny that climate change is really happening?”
3.Invite pupils to use the following resources to create a Powerpoint Presentation that addresses some of the claims in the statement about global warming and climate change:
Photographic evidence:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/sci_nat_your_changing_world/html/1.stm
http://www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/pages/alaska.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/04/sci_nat_staying_afloat_in_bangladesh/html/1.stm
Video evidence:
www.bbc.co.uk/broadband/mediawrapper/consoles/bbcfour/nb_rm_console.shtml?nbram=1&bbram=1&clip=pack3-northernmelt_16x9#
Climate evidence graphs:
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/sci_tech/2004/climate_change/default.stm
Action:
www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/climate_change/what_you_can_do/index.cfm
4.As a whole class, look at the presentations. Ask pupils: “Does the evidence prove that climate change is happening?” “Does the evidence prove that global warming is causing climate change?” Explain to pupils that the precautionary principle holds that any action where the consequences are uncertain but potentially dangerous or irreversible should be avoided. Ask pupils: “Do you think that we need further evidence or conclusive proof of a link between fossil fuels, global warming and climate change, or should we adopt the precautionary principle?”
Extensions:
Invite pupils to write a press release based on the following news report:
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4661830.stm
Evaluation:
Pupils draw a cartoon that uses parts of the statement about global warming. The cartoon should be designed as part of a campaign to persuade people of the need to take action against climate change.
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