What is Global Warming

2

2

How Does Global
Warming Affect
Life on Earth?

2: How Does Global Warming Affect Life on Earth?

How Does Global Warming Affect Life on Earth?

Enquiry Question

What is global warming and what can be done to reduce it?

We will be using our researching enquiry skills to:

•understand the impact of global warming on our planet;

•understand how humans have contributed to global warming;

•describe how different groups are trying to minimise global warming;

•recognise that we can all help reduce our carbon footprints;

•implement strategies to reduce the school’s carbon footprint.

Match each term to its definition.

LO: How does Global Warming affect life on

Earth?

global warming

gases that build up in the
atmosphere and trap heat from
the Sun

greenhouse gas

climate change

the planet gradually heating up
due to the heat trapped by
gases in the atmosphere

the gradual change in weather
and temperature across the
planet

How Does Global Warming Affect Life on Earth?

Global Warming

Global warming occurs when the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
increases and these gases trap more heat from the Sun than is ideal. This leads to
the temperature of the Earth increasing, which causes climate change.

How does global warming impact the planet?

Climate change is the long-term change in
temperature and weather patterns across
the planet. These changes can have
significant consequences.

Humans burning fossil fuels for energy has
drastically increased the amount of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere in the
last 300 years, which has led to the climate
changing significantly.

How Does Global Warming Affect Life on Earth?

Global Warming

Climate change caused by global warming leads to changing weather patterns.
Some areas of the world can experience more periods of drought or severe
storms. Rising temperatures can cause more extreme forest fires.

How does global warming impact the planet?

How Does Global Warming Affect Life on Earth?

Climate Change

Extreme weather conditions caused by climate change have had a huge impact on some communities.

How does climate change impact humans?

Droughts and floods can cause crops to
fail or become less nutritious, leading to
there not being enough food in some
places.

People’s homes can also be damaged or
destroyed by flash floods and wildfires.

Rising temperatures can also lead to some
diseases becoming more prevalent.
Extreme heat in some places can lead to
some people developing breathing
difficulties.

How Does Global Warming Affect Life on Earth?

Climate Change

Climate change can impact living things in many ways. Habitats and ecosystems exist in a delicate balance and climate change can disrupt this balance.

How does climate change impact other living things?

One example of this is the impact of rising temperatures on polar ice caps. These ice caps melt when exposed to increases in temperature, which means that the habitats of animals such as walruses and polar bears are decreasing in size. Due to this, walrus populations are declining and polar bears are spending more time on land, forcing them to live closer to humans, which puts both humans and the animals in danger.

How Does Global Warming Affect Life on Earth?

Climate Change

Choose one of the plants or animals below. With an adult, use your research
skills to find out how its habitat is being affected by climate change.

puffin

bee

bamboo

oak tree

giant
panda

How Does Global Warming Affect Life on Earth?

Climate Change

Climate change might seem scary but communities
across the world are working to make changes that
lessen its impact. We can also make some small changes
in our homes and schools to help our community lessen
the impact of climate change.

Small changes at school and at home can add up to make
a big impact.

One thing we can all do to decrease global warming
and climate change is to be aware of our carbon
footprint.

How Does Global Warming Affect Life on Earth?

Carbon Footprints

Our carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) that is released into the atmosphere as a result of our actions, activities and energy consumption. Things such as how often we travel by car, how far the food we consume has travelled and whether we recycle can increase or decrease our carbon footprint.

We can use an online calculator to find out the size of our carbon footprint.

The good news is that everyone can take some very
easy steps to reduce their carbon footprint.

What are carbon footprints?

Buy local food

How Does Global Warming Affect Life on Earth?

How can we reduce our carbon footprint?

Enquiry Question

What is global warming and what can be done to
reduce it?

Use your research skills to make a list of
ways that we can reduce our carbon
footprint at home and at school.

With your partner, choose your top
three ways to do this and design a plan
to implement your ideas.

How Does Global Warming Affect Life on Earth?

Noa and Benjamin are talking about
ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
Can you help them?