PROJECT BASED LEARNING (PBL)

Focus question and content

Prior knowledge

Outcomes

Action

Skills

Cross Assessment Check box

5.3 Why are global temperatures changing?

5.3.1

The greenhouse effect

How does physics explain the green-

Energy conversions.

house effect?

By means of a greenhouse diagram, understand

Diagram of the physics which apply

that light energy can pass through glass, but

to a greenhouse

Phys

Objective A

Chem

Objective C

Objective C

after an energy conversion, heat cannot pass

back out and is reflected by glass.
5.3.2

Greenhouse gases

What gases in the atmosphere allow

List the principle greenhouse gases, incl.

List greenhouse gases and their

light to pass in but prevent heat

carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and

relative importance, incl. HCFC's

passing out?

CFC's, and know the approximate

ontribution of each. (Understand the new threat
posed by HCFC's

5.3.3

The special roles of carbon dioxide

Why are carbon dioxide and methane

Understand that carbon dioxide and methane

and methane in global warming

such important greenhouse gases?

essentially result from human activities (are

Global warming

What is the greenhouse effect at a

By means of a diagram, understand that light

Research, design, draw and annotate

Phys

planetary level?

can enter the earth's atmosphere but, after an

a diagram to show how the green-

Geog

energy change on the earth's surface, cannot

house effect brings about global

pass back out as heat, and is reflected back.

warming at a planetary level.

What is the international community

Understand the roles of the Kyoto Protocol

Research Kyoto Protocol & IPCC,

doing about global warming?

and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate

and understand the weaknesses of

Change, and be aware of the weaknesses of

the protocol. Role play of nations.

anthropogenic) and are therefore controllable.

5.3.4

5.3.5

Kyoto Protocol

Objective D

both.
5.4 Predicting future climates
5.4.1

Mathematical modelling in biology

How do scientists and

Probability (Ref 1.2.1) and critical

By means of worked examples, understand

Extrapolating graphs - lines of best

mathematicians predict the future?

analysis of data (Ref 4.6.2).

the use of lines of best fit and extrapolation in

fit - to make predictions

skill

Maths

Objective B

order to make predictions, and how important

it is to consider all variables.
5.4.2

Climate models

What are some of the predictions for

Review the best- and worst-case scenarios for

climate change?

climate change and understand why there are

Review climate change models

different climate change models.

5.5 The carbon dioxide balance
5.5.1

The carbon cycle

How does carbon cycle on planet

Know the essential steps of the carbon cycle

Earth?

and the molecular forms in which carbon exists.

Make a diagram of the carbon cycle.

5.5.2

5.5.3

Combustion, deforestation and other

What are the human activities which

Know and understand the main human influences

human influences

are responsible for the increasing

which lead to increased carbon dioxide in the

levels of carbon dioxide in the

atmosphere, incl. combustion of biomass and

atmosphere?

fossil fuels, and deforestation.

What is the international community

Be aware of solutions to global warming that

doing to redress the carbon dioxide

govenments might agree on, such as

balance?

reafforestation and the use of biofuels and

Reducing global warming

Geog

Carbon cycle diagram

skill

Objective A
Geog

Geog

renewable resources.
What can we do to help redress the

Know how we can use energy-saver equipment,

Research and prepare flyers for

balance? A campaign.

be less dependent upon cars, plant trees,

distribution in the community, high-

recycle, etc.

lighting 10 action we can all take, to

skill

Objective C

help reduce global warming.