Ocean & Climate KS3 Ocean acidification

This lesson introduces ocean acidification, the other carbon problem. The ocean absorbs about 25% of human-produced carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This helps to mitigate climate change but is not without its negative consequences for the ocean.

This is a practical lesson where students will develop their working scientifically skills and develop their literacy by writing a scientific conclusion using the ‘Point Evidence Explain’ technique from English.

Curriculum links
Science KS3
Working scientifically

• Using evidence to support conclusions
• Analysing data and graphs
• Investigation skills
  Biology / Chemistry
• Using the pH scale to describe change
• Explaining the impact of human production of carbon dioxide on the environment

Learning outcomes

• Describe patterns in results
• Investigate how carbon emissions change ocean chemistry
• Describe the process of ocean acidification
• Write a scientific conclusion