Human activity
I can evaluate the evidence for human activity causing climate change.
Human activity
I can evaluate the evidence for human activity causing climate change.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Correlation between changing CO₂ concentration and consumption of fuels, and global temperature changes.
- Uncertainties caused by locations where measurements are taken.
- Historical accuracy of measurements should be evaluated.
- Carbon footprints are a way of measuring a person's, product's or organisation's impact on global carbon emissions.
- Fossil fuel derived CO₂ has a different isotopic composition than CO₂ from other sources.
Keywords
Correlation - Correlation is a link between variables so that if one variable changes so does the other. It can be a negative or positive correlation.
Uncertainties - If there are uncertainties in data, it means there may be some doubt over the reliability of the data.
Isotope - An isotope is an atom of an element with the same number of protons, but different mass number, due to a different number of neutrons.
Carbon emissions - Carbon emissions are the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, often through the combustion of fossil fuels.
Carbon footprint - Carbon footprint is the total amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases that a person, product, organisation or event emits in its life cycle.
Common misconception
Individual actions cannot affect global climate. Technology alone can solve climate issues.
Emphasise the impact of collective individual actions. Discuss the need for behavioural change alongside technological solutions.
To help you plan your year 11 combined science lesson on: Human activity, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 combined science lesson on: Human activity, 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.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
the total amount of carbon dioxide that something emits in its life
some doubt over the reliability
a link between variables; if one variable changes so does the other
