This #GoogleExpeditions lesson develops students’ understanding of recycling and where waste goes. Students develop their knowledge of recycling through a Google Expedition to the New York Department of Sanitation. They apply their learning in the form of a waste diary and develop values needed to reduce and recycle more of their waste. Google Expeditions are immersive 360 degree photo stories designed for use in the classroom. For more see: https://www.google.com/edu/expeditions/ To download Google Docs versions of the lesson plan and student sheet go to: https://goo.gl/UzlX1w

This lesson will look at the threats to the coral reefs, using a variety of resources including videos, a gallery and a information Student Sheet. This lesson will get students to start thinking about the scale of the threats to coral reefs and how we can all play a part, regardless of how far we live from the coral reef. This lesson is from the Coral Oceans Geograpy 14-16 unit. You can access the unit here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/coral-oceans-geography-14-16 The unit delivers a comprehensive understanding of coral reefs. Through the use of our exclusive galleries, videos and online resources, students will develop their knowledge and understanding of what coral reefs are, why they are important and how to protect them. The unit includes challenging lessons on abiotic components such as the nutrient cycle and biotic factors such as food chains. To experience the full impact of this scheme of work it can be taught in advance of our annual Coral Live event. Live lessons can be booked for free here: https://encounteredu.com/live

This #GoogleExpeditions lesson develops students’ understanding of farming and sustainability using Tanzania as a case study. Students visit Tanzania using the Google Expeditions virtual field trip. They understand the life of a farmer in Tanzania and compare western lifestyles to those found through the Google Expedition. Students then debate the sustainability of these two lifestyles - their own and those of farmers in Tanzania. Google Expeditions are immersive 360 degree photo stories designed for use in the classroom. For more see: https://www.google.com/edu/expeditions/ To download Google Docs versions of the lesson plan and student sheet go to: https://goo.gl/VUZLdL

This is the first lesson in the eight lesson Global Climate and Renewable Energy unit for KS4 and GCSE. This lesson is an introduction to air pressure and weather systems and the impact they have on global weather. In this lesson students will learn about jet streams and the global atmospheric circulation model and how they affect the weather around the world. Students will be able to explain the global circulation atmospheric model through the use of either a drawing, a model or a physical display. The Global Climate and Renewable Energy unit provides a robust understanding of the latest findings promoting climate literacy, while being curriculum-aligned to GCSE exam body specifications, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to tackle challenges of the future. The unit and its associated activities and multimedia can also be accessed on the Encounter Edu website.

Plastic field work (school grounds) is a Key Stage 3 (KS3) lesson. This lesson provides a framework for conducting plastics fieldwork in the school grounds. As per most fieldwork, it consists of three phases: preparation, conducting fieldwork, and then analysis and conclusions. Depending on your school timetable and ability of your class, you will need to set aside three to four hours to complete this fieldwork activity. Suggestions for challenge tasks are included for more able students, if you teach a mixed ability class. This is a single lesson from Ocean Plastic Geography. Ocean Plastics Geography is a Key Stage 3 (KS3) resource. The lessons address the issue of marine plastic pollution, the harm caused by plastics to the environment and communities, how we deal with all the waste, ending with a debate on approaches to reducing ocean plastic pollution. Fieldwork templates for investigating plastics in the local area are included as well as a wealth of case studies exploring both the human and physical elements of plastic pollution. Get the whole unit’s resources here:https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics If you liked this resource, please rate and review below. This will help to promote oceans education in schools worldwide.

Plastic field work (local area) is a Key Stage 3 (KS3) lesson. This lesson provides a framework for conducting plastics fieldwork in the local area. As per most fieldwork, it consists of three phases: preparation, conducting fieldwork, and then analysis and conclusions. Depending on your school timetable and ability of your class, you will need to set aside three to four hours to complete this fieldwork activity. Suggestions for challenge tasks are included for more able students, if you teach a mixed ability class. This is a single lesson from Ocean Plastic Geography. Ocean Plastics Geography is a Key Stage 3 (KS3) resource. The lessons address the issue of marine plastic pollution, the harm caused by plastics to the environment and communities, how we deal with all the waste, ending with a debate on approaches to reducing ocean plastic pollution. Fieldwork templates for investigating plastics in the local area are included as well as a wealth of case studies exploring both the human and physical elements of plastic pollution. Get the whole unit’s resources here:https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics If you liked this resource, please rate and review below. This will help to promote oceans education in schools worldwide.

This lesson will introduce students to abiotic and biotic factors of the coral reef ecosystem. In this lesson students will gain a detailed understanding of a variety of abiotic and biotic factors. By the end of the lesson students will be able to describe those factors and begin to identify ways actions of humans will affect the ecosystem. This lesson is from the Coral Oceans Geograpy 14-16 unit. You can access the unit here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/coral-oceans-geography-14-16 The unit delivers a comprehensive understanding of coral reefs. Through the use of our exclusive galleries, videos and online resources, students will develop their knowledge and understanding of what coral reefs are, why they are important and how to protect them. The unit includes challenging lessons on abiotic components such as the nutrient cycle and biotic factors such as food chains. To experience the full impact of this scheme of work it can be taught in advance of our annual Coral Live event. Live lessons can be booked for free here: https://encounteredu.com/live

Plastic oceans: can we reduce ocean plastic waste? is a Key Stage 3 (KS3) lesson. Experts agree on the need for urgent action to tackle the issue of marine plastic pollution but disagree on the what methods should be prioritised. Students will look at two main schools of thought: ‘turn off the taps’, stopping plastic from entering the ocean by reducing plastic pollution, limiting single-use plastic use, improving waste management, and introducing alternative products; and ‘bail out the bath’, removing plastic waste from the ocean and beaches. Students engage in a silent debate followed by a group discussion to focus on what they believe is the most effective solution. This is a single lesson from Ocean Plastic Geography. Ocean Plastics Geography is a Key Stage 3 (KS3) resource. The lessons address the issue of marine plastic pollution, the harm caused by plastics to the environment and communities, how we deal with all the waste, ending with a debate on approaches to reducing ocean plastic pollution. Fieldwork templates for investigating plastics in the local area are included as well as a wealth of case studies exploring both the human and physical elements of plastic pollution. Get the whole unit’s resources here:https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics

Climate and Energy is an exciting unit which invites students to explore the connection between the global climate and energy use both locally and internationally, with a focus on renewable energy. Co-created with academics, industry experts and educators, the lessons promote knowledge of the global climate, before focusing in on Northwestern Europe. Once a solid understanding of these topics has been reached, students move on to understand how this climate can be exploited to produce renewable energy, while promoting critical thinking about the topic and encouraging students to create their own opinions based on the real-world data. The unit provides a robust understanding of the latest findings promoting climate literacy, while being curriculum-aligned to GCSE exam body specifications, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to tackle challenges of the future. The unit and its associated activities and multimedia can also be accessed on the Encounter Edu website.

This is the fifth lesson in the eight lesson Global Climate and Renewable Energy unit for KS4 and GCSE. Learn more about renewable energy, including the limitations of renewable energy. Students will consider of renewable energy is enough to meet our current and future energy demands. Renewable energy is currently responsible for approximately 30% of energy production in the UK. This figure has steadily risen since 1990, but is the increase enough? Can we produce enough energy via renewable sources to meet energy needs? What are the issues faced when generating renewable energy? In this lesson students will evaluate the positives and negatives of renewable energy production. They will also consider how renewable energy is affected by the weather. The unit provides a robust understanding of the latest findings promoting climate literacy, while being curriculum-aligned to GCSE exam body specifications, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to tackle challenges of the future. The unit and its associated activities and multimedia can also be accessed on the Encounter Edu website.

Plastic case study - tourism in Kenya is Key stage 3 (KS3) lesson that gives students a broad view of the many impacts plastics have. Plastic does not just have an environmental and health impact, it can also affect economies and communities. For tourism locations, a pristine beach will attract more visitors than one covered in plastic waste. Local government in the UK currently spends about £15 million per year to clear litter from beaches. In this lesson, students will look at a tourism case study centred on the high end tourism on Lamu Island off the coast Kenya. This is a single lesson from Ocean Plastic Geography. Ocean Plastics Geography is a Key Stage 3 (KS3) resource. The lessons address the issue of marine plastic pollution, the harm caused by plastics to the environment and communities, how we deal with all the waste, ending with a debate on approaches to reducing ocean plastic pollution. Fieldwork templates for investigating plastics in the local area are included as well as a wealth of case studies exploring both the human and physical elements of plastic pollution. Get the whole unit’s resources here:https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics

Plastic journey: global plastic problems is a Key Stage 3 (KS3) lesson. The UK exports over half a million tonnes of recovered plastic packaging each year. Historically, much of this was to China, but with a ban on waste imports other solutions and destinations have been sought. Students start by mapping the destinations of plastic waste exports before and after China’s ban, analysing the changes. Then students consider the UK’s options using a range of information, before ranking these and creating a proposal for government action. This is a single lesson from Ocean Plastic Geography. Ocean Plastics Geography is a Key Stage 3 (KS3) resource. The lessons address the issue of marine plastic pollution, the harm caused by plastics to the environment and communities, how we deal with all the waste, ending with a debate on approaches to reducing ocean plastic pollution. Fieldwork templates for investigating plastics in the local area are included as well as a wealth of case studies exploring both the human and physical elements of plastic pollution. Get the whole unit’s resources here:https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics

Using the context of a voyage around the world’s ocean, students will learn about presentation skills including delivery and slide design. Students will deliver their presentation to the class, receiving feedback from their peers. This full lesson contains: Slideshow 12: Captain’s log Lesson Overview and Teacher Guidance Student Sheet 12a: Presentation storyboard Student Sheet 12b: Presentation peer assessment It forms Lesson 12 of 12 from the Our Ocean Planet resource, which is designed to support Key Stage 2 teachers to teach all aspects of the ocean. It can be used as a full topic with over 20 hours of classroom activities or using a pick and mix approach. All lessons and resources are available from Encounter Edu’s TES profile.

This is the sixth lesson in the eight lesson Global Climate and Renewable Energy unit for KS4 and GCSE. Students will consider and predict the electricity consumption of the UK. Specifically, students will have to evaluate whether renewable energy generation will be able to meet predicted demand. In this lesson students will be thinking about what our energy needs may be in the future, and how we will generate enough energy to meet those needs. Students will also study a diagram from an academic journal article to evaluate the reliability of renewable forms of energy. The unit provides a robust understanding of the latest findings promoting climate literacy, while being curriculum-aligned to GCSE exam body specifications, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to tackle challenges of the future. The unit and its associated activities and multimedia can also be accessed on the Encounter Edu website.

In this lesson, students will begin to develop further understanding of coral reefs, how they are formed, the importance of the coral polyp and how they grow from a single coral polyp to a huge coral reef. Students will then look at the coral reef zones and develop understanding of those different zones and their characteristics. This lesson is from the Coral Oceans Geograpy 14-16 unit. You can access the unit here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/coral-oceans-geography-14-16 The unit delivers a comprehensive understanding of coral reefs. Through the use of our exclusive galleries, videos and online resources, students will develop their knowledge and understanding of what coral reefs are, why they are important and how to protect them. The unit includes challenging lessons on abiotic components such as the nutrient cycle and biotic factors such as food chains. To experience the full impact of this scheme of work it can be taught in advance of our annual Coral Live event. Live lessons can be booked for free here: https://encounteredu.com/live

Our oceans and us KS3 is a resource for year 7, year 8, and year 9 students. This lesson introduces students to the concept of ecosystem goods and services and allows them to discuss and share their knowledge. Students write a letter to the Secretary of State for the Environment outlining their thoughts on the ocean’s significance and their concerns about its health. Students also describe how damaging the marine ecosystem could be detrimental for all of us. This is one of three lessons. The lessons introduce students to the breadth and depth of the ocean and the wonder of the creatures that inhabit it. The unit goes on to explore some of the many ways we depend on the ocean and asks students to write to the Secretary of State for the Environment expressing their concerns about ocean health. The unit then reviews what is meant by ocean plastics pollution and encourages students to critically appraise information from different media sources. Students then go on investigate possible career opportunities within this field. At the end of these three lessons students will be fully prepared to embark on the full Key Stage 3 unit - Ocean Plastics 11-14. Get the other lessons in this unit here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/oceans-for-beginners-11-14

This group activity is designed to deepen students’ understanding of the carbon cycle. It is aimed at upper primary classes, as it represents a simplified model of how carbon moves. Students will develop their understanding of how carbon moves between the atmosphere, plants, and animals, as well as how the burning of fossil fuels over the past 250 years has caused an imbalance in the carbon cycle.

Our ocean in crisis KS4 is a resource for year 9, year 10, and year 11 students. In this lesson students will consider some of the myths in the media relating to ocean plastics by completing a true or false activity. They then analyse different news reports considering the motivations different organisations and media outlets may have. Students conduct research about an ‘Ocean hero’ and create a detailed career plan to emulate the achievements of their chosen hero. The lesson concludes with a class discussion about the changes they can implement in their lives which could make a difference to the levels of marine plastic pollution. This is one of three lessons in the Oceans for beginners X-Curric 14-16 unit. Ocean for beginners X-Curric 14-16 is a Key Stage 4 (KS4) resource. The lessons build on prior knowledge of oceans and the species and habitats it encompasses. Students explore ecosystem goods and services and answer GCSE style questions reflecting on how we use the oceans. The unit then reviews what is meant by ocean plastics pollution and encourages students to critically appraise information from different media sources. Students then go on to consider careers in this field by evaluating the work of an ‘Ocean hero’. At the end of these three lessons students will be fully prepared to embark on the full Key Stage 4 unit - Ocean Plastics 14-16. Get the full unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/oceans-for-beginners-x-curric-14-16

Our wonderful ocean KS4 is a resource for year 9, year 10, and year 11 students. This is a This lesson will build on prior knowledge of marine environments. Students use globes and atlases to map the locations and key physical features of the oceans. Students will learn the names and notable characteristics of iconic species from different ocean habitats. They then use the information sheets to develop their knowledge and understanding of how humans use the ocean, presenting their findings in a fact-sheet. This is one of three lessons in the Oceans for beginners X-Curric 14-16 unit. Ocean for beginners X-Curric 14-16 is a Key Stage 4 (KS4) resource. The lessons build on prior knowledge of oceans and the species and habitats it encompasses. Students explore ecosystem goods and services and answer GCSE style questions reflecting on how we use the oceans. The unit then reviews what is meant by ocean plastics pollution and encourages students to critically appraise information from different media sources. Students then go on to consider careers in this field by evaluating the work of an ‘Ocean hero’. At the end of these three lessons students will be fully prepared to embark on the full Key Stage 4 unit - Ocean Plastics 14-16. Get the full unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/oceans-for-beginners-x-curric-14-16

This is the fourth lesson in the eight lesson Global Climate and Renewable Energy unit for KS4 and GCSE. This lesson focuses on developing students’ knowledge and understanding of different types of renewable and non-renewable energy. In this lesson students will learn about how different types of energy are generated and stored, focussing on examples of renewable and non-renewable sources. Students will also look at the energy production matrix of the UK, the Netherlands and the European Union, comparing and contrasting them. The unit provides a robust understanding of the latest findings promoting climate literacy, while being curriculum-aligned to GCSE exam body specifications, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to tackle challenges of the future. The unit and its associated activities and multimedia can also be accessed on the Encounter Edu website.