SHAPING OUR FUTURE: THE CLIMATE CHALLENGE

KS2 LESSON 1 – PRESENTATION

WHAT IS
CLIMATE
CHANGE?
PENGUINS AND POLAR BEARS
Climate change is nearly always in the news
because it’s happening right now, but that’s
just about melting ice caps, penguins and
polar bears… RIGHT?

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PENGUINS AND POLAR BEARS
Climate change is nearly always in the news
because it’s happening right now, but that’s
just about melting ice caps, penguins and
polar bears… RIGHT? WRONG!

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PENGUINS AND POLAR BEARS

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LET’S START FROM THE BEGINNING…

rain

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LET’S START FROM THE BEGINNING…

rain wind

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LET’S START FROM THE BEGINNING…

rain wind sunshine

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LET’S START FROM THE BEGINNING…

rain wind sunshine

fog
❄
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LET’S START FROM THE BEGINNING…

rain wind sunshine

fog
❄
frost

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LET’S START FROM THE BEGINNING…

rain wind sunshine

fog
❄frost snow

This day-to-day change is called the weather.

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CLIMATE
The word climate means the long-term
weather patterns for a particular area.

The equator is an imaginary line around

the middle of the Earth, a bit like a belt.
The areas closest to this belt have very
hot climates. Areas nearest to either of
the poles have very cold climates. Equator

See if you can name some of the places

found in these 5 different climate zones.
Hover over the zones to find out more.

POLAR TEMPERATE MEDITERRANEAN DESERT TROPICAL

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WEATHER WATCHING
The weather changes in four main ways, which can
be monitored and measured in order to predict
what the weather will be like for the next day or the
coming week.

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WEATHER WATCHING

MOVEMENT
Winds blow from all
directions, knowing
which way the wind
is blowing can help
predict the weather.

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WEATHER WATCHING

MOVEMENT MOISTURE
Winds blow from all The moisture content
directions, knowing of the air causes mists
which way the wind and fogs and of course
is blowing can help rain, and frost if it’s
predict the weather. cold.

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WEATHER WATCHING

MOVEMENT MOISTURE PRESSURE

Winds blow from all The moisture content Pressure affects
directions, knowing of the air causes mists whether we have
which way the wind and fogs and of course clear, cloudless days
is blowing can help rain, and frost if it’s or thunder and
predict the weather. cold. lightning storms.

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WEATHER WATCHING

MOVEMENT MOISTURE PRESSURE TEMPERATURE

Winds blow from all The moisture content Pressure affects Temperature is
directions, knowing of the air causes mists whether we have influenced by all
which way the wind and fogs and of course clear, cloudless days of these, as well as
is blowing can help rain, and frost if it’s or thunder and how much sunshine
predict the weather. cold. lightning storms. reaches the Earth.

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CLIMATE CHANGE
Since the 18th century scientists known as
meteorologists have been monitoring and recording
the weather. These records show that the Earth’s
atmosphere is beginning to get warmer which is
causing our climate to change.

This is known as climate change.

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CLIMATE CHANGE
SUN SUN
More heat Less heat
escapes escapes
into space into space
So

So
la

la
r

r
Less More
ra

ra
re-emitted re-emitted
di

di
heat heat
at

at
Re-radiated Re-radiated
io

io
n

n
heat heat
s
se
ga

se
use

re

ou
he

nh
nho

e
osp

Mor

es
gree
gas
Gree

Atm

NATURAL
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
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CLIMATE CHANGE
SUN SUN
More heat Less heat
escapes escapes
into space into space
So

So
la

la
r

r
Less More
ra

ra
re-emitted re-emitted
di

di
heat heat
at

at
Re-radiated Re-radiated
io

io
n

n
heat heat
s
se
ga

se
use

re

ou
he

nh
nho

e
osp

Mor

es
gree
gas
Gree

Atm

NATURAL INCREASED GLOBAL WARMING

GREENHOUSE EFFECT CAUSED BY HUMAN ACTIVITY
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WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Human activity has caused the
Earth to get warmer in the last
100 years.

Climate change caused by our

greenhouse gases is changing
our weather patterns leading to
rising temperatures and extremes
of weather - both of which are
damaging our natural environment.

Think back to the places around

the globe you named earlier. How
do you think weather extremes
and climate change will affect the
animals and people that live there?

••••
© WIM VAN PASSEL / WWF

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Hover over the dots for ideas.
 CLIMATE CHANGE AND US
What about us, here in the UK?

SEVERE THE DR
WEATHER NORTH OWNING OF
OF ENG THE
WARNING LAND
ACROSS I SI NG
THE UK R I C E S A R E R
E P
ND

T
F-FINLA

A
IA / WW

L
IN HAV

O
© KATR

CH O C
9 0 M P H
S T O RM
FLOOD CRISIS GRIPS SUPER Y
CITIES WITH MORE IS ON W A
RAIN FORECAST 10
© GLOBAL WARMING IMAGES / WWF
CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS US ALL!

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