Ocean & Climate KS3 Climate impacts

This lesson brings the KS3 curriculum to life, seamlessly blending key concepts from biology, chemistry, and physics into a cohesive exploration of Earth’s systems. Through a carefully crafted series of activities, students will:

• Unravel climate change’s impact on our oceans, discovering how seemingly small changes can create ripple effects across entire ecosystems.
• Engage in a dynamic card sort activity that challenges them to categorise and connect various aspects of climate change, from causes to consequences.
• Get creative by designing an eye-catching diagram that visually represents the complex web of linkages in climate change.
• Develop critical thinking skills as they analyse how human activities contribute to climate change and how these changes affect Earth’s delicate balance.
• Gain a deeper appreciation for the role of oceans in regulating our climate, tying together concepts of heat transfer, atmospheric science, and marine biology.

By the end of this lesson, students will not only understand the science behind climate change but also feel empowered to discuss its far-reaching impacts on habitats, ecosystems, and human societies. This comprehensive approach ensures that students grasp the interconnectedness of Earth’s systems and the urgent need for environmental stewardship.

Aligned with key KS3 curriculum links, this lesson provides a perfect blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on learning. It’s an ideal way to spark curiosity, foster environmental awareness, and inspire the next generation of climate scientists and ocean advocates.

Curriculum links
Science KS3
Biology

• Relationships in an ecosystem, environmental changes, and effects on living things.
• Chemistry
• Earth and atmospheric science, including climate change and its effects on the environment.
• Physics
• Energy, heat transfer, and the role of the atmosphere and oceans in regulating climate.

Learning outcomes

• Connect climate change to changes in the ocean
• List and describe climate change impacts in the ocean
• Categorise the different aspects of climate change and its impacts
• Create a diagram to show the linkages in climate change