Lesson Plan

Explore how to speed up the switch to electric vehicles and renewables

COP26-01_04

Intent

Lesson Outcomes

  • Understand how to encourage investment in renewables
  • Describe how to encourage investment in renewables
  • Implement any possible change identified on how to encourage investment in renewables

National Curriculum

  • Reporting and presenting findings from enquiries - including conclusions, causal relationships and explanations of and degree of trust in results - in oral and written forms such as displays and other presentations

Sustainability and Climate Change (Provisional Framework) 

  • Practical opportunities to participate in activities to increase climate resilience, reduce carbon impact and enhance biodiversity will enable children and young people to translate knowledge into positive action to improve their local communities, their country and the planet

Working Scientifically 

  • Reporting and presenting findings from enquiries - including conclusions, causal relationships and explanations of and degree of trust in results – in oral and written forms such as displays and other presentations

Resources

Resources: Class presentation, pens and pencils.

Handout: The handout provides a grid for the children to create their own walking bus or walk to work campaign. It asks 'how will you engage staff and pupils who cannot walk to work?'

Rocket words

  • electric car
  • renewable energy
  • hybrid
  • walking bus
  • fuel vehicle

Implementation

Starter

Though electric cars are better for the environment, the emissions produced during their manufacturing process is over half (59%) higher than the manufacture of fuel engine cars. Does this change the benefit of electric cars? Does the lack of emissions released when the cars are driven cancel out the manufacturing process? Identify the pros and cons of electric vehicles. After discussing, ask the pupils to divide themselves up into 2 groups - those who think that electric vehicles are a good method of travel and those that don't/are unsure.

Main Teaching

Use the presentation slides to explain to the children how investing in renewables, including electric vehicles, is a significant way that countries and individuals can decrease their overall greenhouse gas emissions. Link this idea to other forms of movement, such as walking or cycling. Walking to school positively impacts the health and wellbeing of employees and pupils by encouraging them to be more physically active. It benefits everyone and reduces congestion and carbon emissions around the community whilst the employer and local economy benefit from raised productivity (for example, by reduced absence).

Climate Action Film: Gnewt/MoL Commercial EV Trial.

Career Film: This is Chris Cunliffe. Chris works as a Research Technologist for National Nuclear Laboratory.

Expert Film: This is Chris Cunliffe. Chris works as a Research Technologist for National Nuclear Laboratory. Chris talks about reaching Net Zero by 2050.

Mission Assignment

Ask the children to create their own walking bus or walk to school campaign. How will they engage staff and pupils who cannot walk to work? What other ways can we get around that are more sustainable than taking the car?

Challenge task: To support your campaign, conduct a survey of the whole class and find out how they usually get to school or work. 

Impact & Assessment Opportunities

Plenary

Ask the children to discuss their campaign with a talk partner. Evaluate strong areas and weak areas.