4.1-4.3 What is environment & climate change

• Aardrijkskunde
• Voortgezet speciaal onderwijs
• Leerroute 3

4.1 Setting the scene for the environment

5 mins quiet reading

4.1 setting the scene for the environment

Goal 4.1: you can explain the pattern between economic development and environmental problems 

What is "the environment"

think-pair-share

Defining the environment

The environment = our surroundings.

• Natural environment = Living, non-living things that occur naturally on the Earth.
• Built environment = Landscapes constructed by human beings.

Environmental problem = Negative effects of human activities on the environment. Three causes: Population growth, globalisation and increased prosperity.

Is there a place on earth without human influence?

think-pair-share

Kuznets curve

Model of the relationship between environmental problems and economic development.

-> look at the x and y axis and the graphline.

-> take turns & explain to your neighbour: 
1. what the model shows

2. think of an explanation why this pattern occurs in countries.

Development and the environment

GDP per capita -> all the money earned inside a country divided by the number of inhabitants

It is a measure of the wealth in a country.

1. Increase of welfare & a growing economy will lead to more impact on the environment. More building, more economic activities (factories), more cars.

Development and the environment

GDP per capita -> all the money earned inside a country divided by the number of inhabitants

It is a measure of the wealth in a country.

1. Increase of welfare & a growing economy will lead to more impact on the environment. More building, more economic activities (factories), more cars.

Development and the environment

2. Increase of development and welfare levels lead to more awareness of environmental problems.

More protest amongst inhabitants and (environmental) NGOs. 

After a turning point, environmental problems will decrease, because of stricter regulation. This process is described in the environmental Kuznets curve, as you can see in the figure on the right.

4.3 climate change

Goals 4.3: you understand that:

- climate change has always existed

- what causes current day climate change (natural & human)

Shortly answer in your own words:
1. what is climate change
2. what causes climate change
3. how do you notice in your life that there is climate change?

Climate versus weather

Weather is what we see right now. 

Climate is the average temperature and precepitation over a period of 30 years.

The natural greenhouse effect (left) and human enhanced greenhouse effect (right).

Climate change has always been there, but why is this climate change so different now?

1. The next ice age has not yet come
2. The amount of Co2 has increased sharply at the hands of humans
3. The sun is much stronger at the moment
4. Current climate change is happening much faster than temperature changes in the past

Self work time 4.1 & 4.3

4.1 make exercise 2+3

4.3 make exercise 1+2+3+5

4.3 climate change - lesson 2

Goals:

- you understand that climate change has always existed

- you can explain what causes current day climate change (natural & human)

- you have completed exercises of 4.1&4.3

- you have shown me a great work ethic as a group

Starter exercise: what does this image depict?

Language support

In the image I read ... I think in other words this means..

Looking at the red/yellow arrows, they might represent...

The full image describes... you can see this for example by how... (describe a detail)

What does this image depict:

Carbon is constantly moving from one place to another.

Carbon can take different forms:

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) – a gas in the atmosphere and oceans.

Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) – in plants and other living things.

Organic carbon – in plants, animals, and dead organisms.

Carbonates – in oceans, rocks, and shells.

Fossil fuels – coal, oil, and natural gas

What does this image depict:

Main processes (red & yellow arrows)

Plants take in CO₂ through photosynthesis.

Animals get carbon by eating plants or other animals.

Respiration releases CO₂.

Decomposition releases carbon back into the environment.

Burning fossil fuels releases CO₂ into the atmosphere.

Read together

What: 4.3 page 101-103

How: everybody reads along quietly, one person reads out loud, the teacher might give extra explanation/ask questions/ask to repeat after me for pronunciation.

Complete exercises

Goal: process information & fully understand 4.3

What: make 4.3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 (4.1 2+3 should be completed)

How: you work solo, you read the piece of text necessary for the exercise, you write in full sentences when there is an open ended question.

Question? 1. read the text book. 2. underline in the workbook the words that tell you what to do & mark which words you don't understand. 3. softly ask help from your direct neighbour. 4. Come to my desk (1 at the time).

Atmosphere: library with soft whispers.

Done? Do exercise 10 - read your reading book.

The topic of climate change has proven ______ a controversial one.

1. being
2. to be
3. to be being
4. to have been

Which controversies?

1. Controversy 1 (old): is it real & is it caused by humans? 
2. Controversy 2: does it matter & why worry, the climate has always changed?
3. Controversy 3: which impacts of the change will really happen, who can predict the future?
4. Controversy 3: can the change & impacts be stopped or should we adjust to just live with them?
5. Controversy 4: if we try to stop/limit climate change, who is responsible, who bears the costs, how do we make it fair?

Make the right combination between the 

greenhouse gas name & chemical notation

Methane

Carbon dioxide

Water vapour

Nitrous oxide <br>(laughing gas)

CO2

CH4

H2O

N2O

Water vapour increasing

Heating

Evaporation increasing

The fact that gasses in our atmosphere trap heat which is necessary for survival on our planet

1. Intensified natural effect
2. Increased greenhouse effect
3. Natural greenhouse effect
4. Enhanced greenhouse effect

The natural greenhouse effect (left) and human enhanced greenhouse effect (right).

How does deforestation contribute to climate change?

1. By decreasing the capacity for photosynthesis
2. By increasing oxygen levels
3. By increasing sunlight and less shadow
4. By decomposition / burning of the trees

Scientist _______ that climate change will increase over time.

1. feel
2. estimate
3. choose
4. give

PLENDA: Homework - see board

After 4.1+4.3 you:
4.1 understand what are the different types of environment, what is an environmental problem, you can explain the Kuznets curve (how economic growth in a country leads to a change in environmental impact).

4.3 you know natural and human causes of climate change, you can name different greenhouse gasses, you know what the difference between the enhanced and natural greenhouse effect is and can explain how they work, you can explain the carbon cycle and apply it to examples.