What do we mean by climate change? - teacher's notes

The term 'climate change' refers to the significant alterations in global weather patterns over time, particularly those changes that have been observed since the late 19th century. The teaching notes provided suggest an interactive and collaborative approach to exploring this critical issue with pupils. The lesson starts with an invitation for students to watch an educational video from BBC Bitesize that explains the concept of climate change in a manner suitable for Key Stage 2 learners. This visual resource serves as a foundation for the subsequent classroom discussion.

Following the video, pupils are encouraged to engage in a conversation to identify and discuss the main issues associated with climate change. This discussion aims to lead them to articulate five reasons why climate change is occurring. Recognising that climate change is a multifaceted topic, the notes acknowledge that many of the issues will be further explored in other parts of the learning unit. To deepen their understanding, students are then asked to form small groups of four and assign themselves the labels A, B, C, or D. After group discussions, students regroup according to their labels to consolidate and present the three main points from their discussions, ensuring a comprehensive exchange of ideas and learning outcomes among all participants.