Lesson Plan

Getting back on track - What we can do at school and home

COP26S-01_01

Intent

Lesson Outcomes

  • Explore changes needed at home and school which will help secure net zero
  • Describe changes needed at home and school which will help secure net zero
  • Implement changes needed at home and school which will help secure net zero

Sustainability and Climate Change (Provisional Framework)

We will empower all young people to be global citizens, through a:

  • better understanding of climate change
  • greater connection to nature

National Curriculum

Subject content – Chemistry; Pupils should be taught about: Earth and atmosphere-

  • the production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the impact on climate

Working Scientifically

Experimental skills and investigations:

  • Select, plan and carry out the most appropriate types of scientific enquiries to test predictions, including identifying independent, dependent and control variables, where appropriate

Resources

Resources: Class presentation.

Handout: Activity sheet contains a table where children have the opportunity to draw up a personal plan to decide what changes need to be made in different areas at school and at home. They are to populate the table based on the following prompts: 

  • Energy- consider who supplies your energy at home and at school.
  • Agriculture- does the food you eat come from sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices?
  • Land-use change and forestry- when buying new items do you check for sustainable wood production?
  • Industrial processes- do you buy locally and understand where your items come from?
  • Waste produced- do you recycle?

Rocket words

  • 1.5°C global warming target temperature
  • greenhouse gas
  • net zero
  • low carbon
  • Paris Agreement

Implementation

Starter

Ask the students the following questions: What can you do at school which will help get the planet back on track and reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Are there any systems in place already at school that you know of? Can these be improved upon?

Main Teaching

Around 70% of the world economy is now covered by net zero targets, which is up from less than 30% before COP26. This lesson explores some of the changes that are happening globally as a result of climate change, and some of the actions that are being taken to combat them. Children are urged to consider their own lives and how they can work towards net zero themselves. 

Career Film: This is Luigi Capponi. Luigi works as a Nuclear Physicist for National Nuclear Laboratory.

Expert Film: This is Luigi Capponi. Luigi works as a Nuclear Physicist for National Nuclear Laboratory. Luigi talks about the impact of global warming.

Mission Assignment

Net zero targets task. 

Draw up a personal plan which sets out the changes you need to make in your school and personal life to reduce your contribution to greenhouse emissions.

Use the following headings to set a target for each priority area. What targets will you set to play your part in reducing the amount of energy you use? 

  • Energy- consider who supplies your energy at home and at school.
  • Agriculture- does the food you eat come from sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices?
  • Land-use change and forestry- when buying new items do you check for sustainable wood production?
  • Industrial processes- do you buy locally and understand where your items come from?
  • Waste produced- do you recycle?

Challenge task: Using a computer, choose a large organisation to investigate. This can be an organisation completely of your choice; some examples could be a high street brand, an e-commerce site or a transport manufacturer. 

Consider their contribution to net zero and rate their existing system, making suggestions for improvement.

Impact & Assessment Opportunities

Plenary

Discuss and decide which areas are the most important areas to prioritise for net zero.