Carbon footprints
I can explain what a carbon footprint is and identify changes likely to make a positive difference.
Carbon footprints
I can explain what a carbon footprint is and identify changes likely to make a positive difference.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- A carbon footprint is a measure of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of our activities.
- By adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, people are supercharging the natural greenhouse effect.
- Human activity is a major cause of rapid climate change; the main cause is burning fossil fuels.
- Calculating our carbon footprint helps us to measure our impact on the planet and plan our daily activities accordingly.
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.
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.
To help you plan your year 5 geography lesson on: Carbon footprints, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 geography lesson on: Carbon footprints, 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 2 geography lessons from the Sustainable world: does it matter how we live? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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