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Day Three: Our contribution to climate change

Morning session: Fossil fuels in our everyday lives
Key focus
When do we use energy from fossil fuels? How could we use less fossil fuel energy?

> Background information for teachers (morning)
> Morning activities

Afternoon session: Climate-friendly lifestyles
Key focus
The connection between climate change and lifestyle choices

> Afternoon activities

Morning   Afternoon

Three activities: Four activities: > The fossil fuel energy in our day (45 mins) (154KB pdf) Pupils itemise activities in their day and work out which ones use fossil fuel energy. > Climate change quiz (111KB pdf) A quiz to test pupils knowledge and understanding of climate change and to inspire them to continue thinking about it. > The fossil fuel energy in our food and drink (1 hour 15 mins) (151KB pdf) After having studied the life-cycle of an aluminium can, pupils reflect on the processes that went into making a box of cereal. > My climate-friendly lifestyle (93KB pdf) Pupils write stories about what their lives would be like if they used only half as much fossil fuel as they do currently. > Can we produce less carbon dioxide? (30 mins) (136KB pdf) Pupils think about ways in which individuals, businesses and governments can reduce carbon dioxide emissions. > Needs and wants (93KB pdf) Pupils work in small groups to reflect on what are essential human needs and what are not essential.     > Interview follow-up (93KB pdf) Pupils compare the results of the interviews they conducted with older people.   Download a pdf of all morning activities with worksheets and information (273KB pdf)   Download a pdf of all afternoon activities with worksheets and information (128KB pdf)

Morning
The term ‘fossil fuel energy’ has been used throughout because it is important that pupils understand that it is energy from fossil fuels that contributes to climate change. Pupils are often asked to ‘save energy’, for example by walking to school, but this is inaccurate and misleading as they are using a different kind of energy.

It is worth stressing that mains electricity is the biggest contributor of carbon dioxide per unit (see box below) and that switching off electrical equipment when not in use is therefore particularly important.

You may also find the following information useful to refer to during the morning’s activities:

Where we get our electricity from in the UK

• Gas 37%
• Coal 34%
• Nuclear 20%
• Renewables 5%
• Oil 1%
• Others 3%

Source: The Guardian, May 2 2007

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