Climate Change - Unit 1 - Reading Comprehension PowerPoint

The 'Climate Change - Unit 1 - Reading Comprehension PowerPoint' is a comprehensive educational resource aimed at upper Key Stage 2 students, focusing on non-fiction reading and writing skills. The material delves into the topic of climate change, explaining that it refers to the long-term changes in temperature and conditions on Earth. While the planet has always undergone natural climatic evolution over its 4.55 billion-year history, recent changes are believed to have been significantly accelerated by human activities. The content defines climate change as the accumulation of man-made gases in the atmosphere that trap the sun's heat, leading to altered weather patterns globally. The resource includes vocabulary checks to ensure students understand key terms such as 'accelerated'.

The resource goes on to address why there is current concern over climate change, despite Earth's history of natural climatic fluctuations, including ice ages that have led to species extinctions. It highlights the impact of the growing human population, changes in lifestyle, and technological advancements on the planet and its resources. The rate of climate change is described as alarmingly fast, with scientists warning of potentially irreparable damage unless significant changes are made. The PowerPoint also explains the greenhouse effect and its role in maintaining Earth's temperature, noting that excessive greenhouse gases from human activities are causing a rise in global temperatures and extreme weather events. Students are encouraged to engage with the material through activities that involve sorting causes and effects of climate change and developing reading comprehension skills by analyzing texts related to the subject.