Science lesson plan · 11th grade (Year 12 in England) · 45 minutes
Analyse climate data: COâ‚‚ records and temperature trends
Weather and climate
CCSS NGSS.HS-ESS3-5CCSS NGSS.HS-ESS2-4CCSS NGSS.SEP 4England: GCSE Combined Science: Chemistry of the atmosphere (evaluating evidence for climate change)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Analyse climate data: COâ‚‚ records and temperature trends.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: The greenhouse effect and climate change; Interpreting data from tables and graphs
Leads to: Climate feedbacks and natural climate cycles
Materials: Weather maps, Thermometers, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (The greenhouse effect and climate change; Interpreting data from tables and graphs). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which is an effect of climate change? (rising sea levels as ice melts and seawater expands / the Earth stopping rotating / more oxygen in the air / the end of all weather) → rising sea levels as ice melts and seawater expandsPrompt: What happens to glaciers when it warms?
- Study: Light and pondweed. Distance from lamp (cm) → Bubbles per minute 10 → 55 20 → 49 30 → 43 40 → 37 50 → 31 Estimate the value at 35, assuming the pattern between neighbouring points is a straight line. → 40Prompt: 35 lies halfway between 30 and 40.
- Before 1800, carbon dioxide in the air was about 280 ppm. Recently it was about 420 ppm. By how many ppm has it risen? → 140 ppmPrompt: Subtract the old value from the new value.
Hook · 5 min
- Show today's forecast and ask what it means for the class and how forecasters know.
- Share the objective: Analyse climate data: COâ‚‚ records and temperature trends. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Annual mean COâ‚‚ at the Mauna Loa observatory was about 317 ppm in 1960 and about 414 ppm in 2020. What was the mean rate of increase, in ppm per year? Give 1 decimal place.
- Step 1: (414 − 317) ÷ (2020 − 1960) = 97 ÷ 60 = 1.62
- Step 2: So the answer is: 1.6
- Answer: 1.6
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Annual mean CO₂ at the Mauna Loa observatory was about 354 ppm in 1990 and about 414 ppm in 2020. What was the mean rate of increase, in ppm per year? Give 1 decimal place. → 2Prompt: rate = change in CO₂ ÷ change in time
- A website claims "the climate has always changed, so today's warming is natural". Which response is best supported by evidence? (Past changes were mostly slower and had natural causes; today's rapid warming matches the rise in CO₂ from human activity / Natural changes cannot happen / There has been no warming since 1900 / The claim proves humans have no effect) → Past changes were mostly slower and had natural causes; today's rapid warming matches the rise in CO₂ from human activityPrompt: Look at the speed and the cause of the change.
You do: independent practice · 10 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Climate evidence: which statement is NOT true? (Sea level is rising as oceans warm and land ice melts. / Arctic sea ice in summer has shrunk since satellite records began in 1979. / Global average surface temperature has risen by more than 1 °C since the late 1800s. / Melting sea ice is the main cause of sea-level rise.) → Melting sea ice is the main cause of sea-level rise.Prompt: What is the difference between weather and climate?
- Annual mean CO₂ at the Mauna Loa observatory was about 354 ppm in 1990 and about 414 ppm in 2020. What was the mean rate of increase, in ppm per year? Give 1 decimal place. → 2Prompt: rate = change in CO₂ ÷ change in time
Watch out for
- Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
- Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: The greenhouse effect and climate change.
- Use concrete materials: weather maps.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Climate feedbacks and natural climate cycles.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-11.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder