Evolution of Earth's atmosphere
I can describe how Earth’s atmosphere developed over billions of years.
Evolution of Earth's atmosphere
I can describe how Earth’s atmosphere developed over billions of years.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Early volcanic activity is thought to have made an atmosphere of carbon dioxide and nitrogen billions of years ago.
- Carbon dioxide can dissolve in oceans and form carbonates that, over millions of years, can form sedimentary rock.
- The amount of carbon dioxide was reduced by the formation of sedimentary rocks and photosynthesis by algae and plants.
- Algae and plants produced the oxygen that is now in the atmosphere by photosynthesis.
- Phytoplankton in the oceans are responsible for roughly half of all oxygen production that takes place today.
Keywords
Algae - A diverse range of unicellular or multicellular organisms that can photosynthesise.
Phytoplankton - A group of microscopic algae, usually found floating in the upper part of the ocean.
Photosynthesis - A process in which energy from sunlight converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
Carbon sink - A process or system that takes more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases.
Sedimentary rock - Rock formed when particles settle on Earth’s surface and then become cemented together.
Common misconception
Earth's atmosphere has always contained oxygen. The atmosphere's composition is static and unchanging.
Clarify the development of oxygen through photosynthesis. Describe how atmospheric composition has evolved over time due to geological and biological processes.
To help you plan your year 11 combined science lesson on: Evolution of Earth's atmosphere, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 combined science lesson on: Evolution of Earth's atmosphere, 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 4 combined science lessons from the Atmosphere and changing climate unit, dive into the full secondary combined science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
