Big Ideas in Primary Science: Understanding the Climate Crisis takes a fresh approach to learning the science of climate change. It combines new thinking in science teaching using big ideas, with our growing need to look after our planet, and encourages children to learn from what scientists have to say about issues that will impact their lives today and in the future.
The book offers primary teachers the subject and pedagogical knowledge, as well as the confidence they need, to integrate the seeds of big ideas into their curriculum. It provides models of good practice which exemplify how primary-aged children can work towards understanding some of science’s big ideas and engage with important issues related to climate change. There are also opportunities for children to develop skills and understanding from other curriculum areas, such as geography, design technology, and art. The easy-to-use book covers topics such as
Weather
Climate
Climate change
Impact of the climate crisis on our lives
Impact of the climate crisis on wildlife
The world we must create
Taking climate action
By making the ideas their own, children can develop informed ways of thinking about issues related to climate change and feel empowered to act in ways which can make a difference. Full of ideas about the climate crisis, Big Ideas in Primary Science is a comprehensive, valuable, and essential resource for all teachers of primary science.
Author(s): Peter Loxley
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 213
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Title
Copyright
Contents
List of figures
Acknowledgement
Climate crisis
1. Working towards big ideas
Big ideas
Topics
Models of good practice
Indicators of good practice
Strategies for promoting good practice
Health and safety
Further reading
2. Listening to the science
Net zero by 2050
Time is running out
Conference of the Parties (COP)
The Earthshot Prize
Climate change activists
Information sources
3. Weather
Part 1: Subject knowledge
The atmosphere
Solar energy
Water cycle
Types of weather
Weather forecasts
Part 2: Working towards the big idea
Health and safety
Exploring children’s ideas
Colour-coding the atmosphere
Research! Hurricanes
Model! Tornadoes in a jar
Model! Thunderclouds
Design! Weather symbols
Design! Met Office weather reports
Weather watchers
Explore! Clouds
Paint! Clouds
Information sources
Working on scientific understanding
How clouds are created
Model! Water Cycle
Enquire! Evaporation
Condensation
Explore! Wind
Explore! Air
Model! Air
Information sources
The bigger picture
Design! Weather forecasts
Enquire! Accuracy of weather forecast
Research! Blowing in the wind
Survey! How forecasts are used
Story telling! The history of weather forecasting
Information sources
4. Climate
Part 1: Subject knowledge
Difference between climate and weather
Climate zones
Seasons
How the Earth’s atmosphere keeps us warm
Ecosystems ‘dance’ in time with the rhythm of the seasons
Ecosystems and climate change
Part 2: Working toward the big idea
Health and safety
Exploring children’s ideas
Talk! Weather memories
Planning a holiday to Australia
Talk! Climate
The ideal climate
Research! Climate zones
Information sources
Working on scientific understanding
Talk! Seasons
Model! Seasonal weather
Changing seasons
Thought experiment
Puzzle! Do other planets have seasons?
Mission to Mars
Talk! Living in a greenhouse
Model! Greenhouse effect
Enquire! Earth’s atmosphere
Information sources
The bigger picture
Talk! Nature’s rhythms
Talk! Rhythms of the seasons
Enquire! How do woodlands respond to the rhythm of the seasons?
Paint! Rhythms of the seasons
Enquire! Nature’s Calendar
Information sources
5. Climate change
Part 1: Subject knowledge
Climate change
Evidence for climate change
Causes of climate change
The science of burning
Methane is a greenhouse gas
How digestion produces methane
Carbon footprints
Part 2: Working towards the big idea
Health and safety
Exploring children’s ideas
Enquire! Anecdotal evidence for climate change
Research! Scientific evidence for climate change
Conference! Evidence for climate change
Information sources
Working on scientific understanding
Earth Minute! Only ourselves to blame
Research! What are fossil fuels?
Enquire! Burning fossil fuels
Art! The science behind global warming
Story-telling! Life without fossil fuels
Information sources
The bigger picture
Burping! Methane is a major greenhouse gas
Explore! The digestive system
Model! The digestive system
Explore! High fibre meals
Explore! Ruminants
Information sources
6. Impact of climate crisis on our lives
Part 1: Subject knowledge
Rising sea levels
Nuisance flooding
Flash flooding in the UK
Flash flooding around the world
Wildfires
Adapting to climate change
Conflict between people and wildlife
Food security and safety
Conflict and migration
Part 2: Working towards the big idea
Exploring children’s ideas
Higher and higher!
Story-telling! Local community hit hard by flash flooding
Street Art! Ignoring the climate crisis
Model! Flood defences
Adapting to flooding problems
Role-play! Resilient Residents
STEM ambassador
Information sources
Working on scientific understanding
Enquire! How warming creates wetter weather
Enquire! How rising sea levels can cause flooding
Model! Rising sea levels
Case-study! Communities most affected by rising sea levels
Information sources
The bigger picture
Research! Wildfires
Story-telling! Bushfires in Australia
Devastation in the developing world
Research! Sub-Saharan Symposium
Design! Beat the flood
Human-elephant conflict
Conflict Resolution
Conservation Consultation
Information sources
7. Impact of climate crisis on wildlife
Part 1: Subject knowledge
Alarming loss of plants
Habitat destruction
Deforestation fronts
Tropical rainforests
Habitat destruction in the Congo Rainforests
Polar Regions
Marine habitats
Whales and dolphins
Great Barrier Reef
Part 2: Working towards the big idea
Exploring children’s ideas
Art! Lungs of the Earth
Debate! Deforestation fronts
Imagine! Undiscovered habitats
Story-telling! Our closest relatives
Campaign! Save critically endangered animals
Information sources
Working on scientific understanding
Polar regions
Enquire! Melting sea ice
The UK Arctic Research Station
Polar bear problems
Can polar bears adapt to life on land?
Enquire! Arctic research
Safeguarding seeds for the future
Research! Why choose Svalbard?
Enquire! Storing seeds
Information sources
The bigger picture
Talk! Marine algae
Art: Marine ecosystem
Research! Mapping endangered species
Enquire! The effects of ocean acidification
Research! Crisis time for the world’s largest natural wonder
Information resources
8. The world we must create
Part 1: Subject knowledge
Change our diet
Plant more trees
Green-up outdoor spaces
Stop burning fossil fuels
Improve home insulation
Develop low-carbon energy
Use low-carbon transport
Develop technologies for carbon capture
Offset carbon emissions
Choose our future
Part 2: Working towards the big idea
Health and safety
Exploring children’s ideas
Change our diet
Plant more trees
Enquire! Re-envisioning the local park
Green-up outdoor spaces
Design! Roof top gardens and living walls
Stop burning fossil fuels
Storytelling! Transport in the year 2121
Enquire! Home insulation
Information sources
Working on scientific understanding
Enquire! Plant anatomy
Enquire! Rewilding
Develop carbon capture technologies
Information sources
The bigger picture
Choose our future
World weather forecast for 2050
Story-telling! Two worlds
Design! Future living
Information sources
9. Taking climate action
Part 1: Subject knowledge
Meet generation Greta: young climate activists around the world
Eco-anxiety
Getting to know our carbon footprint
Eat for your health and that of the planet
Cut down on waste
Green-up the school
Get involved with citizen science
Part 2: Working towards the big idea
Health and safety
Exploring children’s ideas
Young climate activists
Mini COP conference
Actions children can take to reduce their carbon footprint
Cut down on waste
Installation Art! Pyramids of Garbage
Food waste
Art! Imagining the problem
Composting waste
Enquire! Explore the compost heap
Plastic waste
Vision! A waste-free world
Enquire! Sustainable packaging
Design! Eco-packaging
Enquire! Types of plastic
Story-telling! PET and the fashion world
Visit a recycling plant
Campaign! Cut down on waste
Information sources
Working on scientific understanding
Analyse! Carbon footprint
Evaluate! Carbon footprint
Enquire! Reduce emissions from food
Questionnaire! Food miles
Debate! Carbon saving guidelines
Working within the guidelines! Footprint Friday
Discuss! Sustainable diet
Design! Carbon labelling
Reduce! Emissions due to travel
Reduce! Air travel
Reduce! Emissions at home
Reduce! Lifestyle emissions
Poster campaign! Make do and mend
Make! Patchwork
The Repair Shop
Information sources
The bigger picture
Greening-up the school
Create a butterfly garden
Citizen science
Big Butterfly Count
The Garden Butterfly Survey
Nature’s Calendar Project
The Big Garden Birdwatch
The Wildlife Trusts
Information sources
The last word
Mitigation and adaptation
Index
