Climate Change: From Past to Present KS3 Geography

This comprehensive lesson grounds students in the fundamentals of climate science, exploring the processes that shape our planet’s climate and the methods scientists use to study climate change. Students will engage in a range of activities that bring climate science to life, developing their understanding of both natural and human-induced climate drivers.

Key lesson components include:
Exploring the fundamental factors that influence Earth’s climate systems
Investigating natural climate drivers and distinguishing them from human influences
Learning about proxy evidence and how scientists reconstruct past climates
Visualising the greenhouse effect through interactive activities
Analysing real climate data to develop critical thinking and data interpretation skills

This lesson aligns closely with the KS3 Geography curriculum, covering aspects of locational knowledge, physical geography, and climate processes. It also provides valuable cross-curricular links with Science, particularly in the areas of Earth science and energy.

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
Explain the basic factors influencing Earth’s climate
Describe the concept of climate change and its various drivers
Outline methods scientists use to study past climates
Demonstrate improved skills in analyzing and interpreting climate data

Curriculum links
Geography KS3
Locational knowledge of environmental regions
Physical geography weather and climate, hydrology
Cross-curricular connections
Science: Earth and atmosphere; energy