New
New
Year 5

Carbon footprints

I can explain what a carbon footprint is and identify changes likely to make a positive difference.

New
New
Year 5

Carbon footprints

I can explain what a carbon footprint is and identify changes likely to make a positive difference.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A carbon footprint is a measure of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of our activities.
  2. By adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, people are supercharging the natural greenhouse effect.
  3. Human activity is a major cause of rapid climate change; the main cause is burning fossil fuels.
  4. Calculating our carbon footprint helps us to measure our impact on the planet and plan our daily activities accordingly.

Common misconception

Children may have heard about the ozone layer and think this is the main cause of climate change.

Whilst ozone depletion and climate change are linked, it is not a major cause of climate change.

Keywords

  • Climate change - Climate change is a large-scale and long-term change in the planet’s climate, including weather patterns and average temperatures.

  • Greenhouse gas - Greenhouse gases are gases in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat.

  • Global warming - Global warming is the increase in Earth's average temperature over a long period of time.

  • Fossil fuels - Fossil fuels are natural substances that were formed over millions of years from the buried remains of ancient organisms; they include coal, oil and gas.

The WWF have an interactive carbon footprint quiz that pupils could use to try out different scenarios where they do more recycling, or eat less meat, to see how much difference different actions make.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these are natural resources?
Correct answer: water
laptop
Correct answer: diamond
plastic
Q2.
Who consumes the most natural resources?
most people living in poor countries
everyone consumes the same amount
Correct answer: wealthy families living in rich countries
Q3.
Do our choices affect global sustainability?
Correct answer: Yes - we have the power to do some things that will positively affect the future
No - the outcome of global sustainability is already decided.
No - our choices make a tiny difference that can’t have a global impact.
Q4.
Which type of resource is the most sustainable?
non-renewables
fossil fuels
Correct answer: renewables
Q5.
If we use too much of our natural resources they can .
Correct Answer: run out, become exhausted
Q6.
If something is unsustainable, it means it’s using up resources faster than they’re being .
Correct Answer: replaced, replenished

6 Questions

Q1.
Fossil fuels are formed over millions of years from the buried remains of .
water and plastic
metal and glass
Correct answer: plants and animals
Q2.
Which of these are fossil fuels?
Correct answer: coal
Correct answer: oil
metal
Correct answer: natural gas
water
Q3.
Fossil fuels are resources.
Correct Answer: non-renewable, not renewable
Q4.
Which of these store carbon?
Correct answer: plants
burning fossil fuels
Correct answer: the atmosphere
Q5.
Order the stages of climate change.
1 - Extra carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
2 - Greenhouse gases increase and trap more heat.
3 - Global warming occurs and temperatures rise.
4 - The climate of the Earth is changed.
Q6.
What has caused an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Correct answer: burning fossil fuels
planting more trees
Correct answer: deforestation