Long-term overview - Climate Change - Year 6

The national curriculum for Geography at Key Stage 2 in the UK aims to ignite a lifelong curiosity and fascination in pupils about the world and its inhabitants. It encourages students to explore and understand the dynamic interplay between the Earth's physical features and human activities, as well as the resulting landscapes and environments. For Year 6 pupils, the curriculum places a significant emphasis on the topic of climate change, which is considered an essential subject due to its widespread impact and relevance.

Students in Year 6 are expected to gain substantive knowledge about climate change, including its definition, the role of greenhouse gases, and the importance of the ozone layer. They learn about the influence of human industry on various climate zones and are introduced to environmental activists like Greta Thunberg, who campaign for urgent action to combat climate change. Disciplinary knowledge is also developed as students reflect on changes in buildings, trade, and population, and understand the severe consequences of neglecting climate issues. They are taught to appreciate the reasons behind settlement choices, despite challenging weather or physical conditions, and to use tools like Google Earth for geographical exploration. Furthermore, they engage in creating hypotheses for fieldwork enquiries and develop map displays to communicate their findings, all while considering the profound impact of climate change on our world.