Weather and Climate: a Teachers’ Guide
Pathway: Climate
Past Climate Change – Changing Global Climate – UK Climate – Changing UK climate
Lesson overview: In this lesson we use the Central England Temperature record to explore changing UK weather and look at the projected impacts of climate change on the UK.
The UK climate has always changed and in over recent decades has become warmer. Over the coming century it is projected to become warmer and wetter in winter and hotter and drier in summer. Although change is unlikely to be dramatic, its cumulative impact will be significant and will affect human populations, landscapes and the natural world. Adaptation and mitigation can help to ameliorate some of the negative impacts of our changing climate, though some populations, landscapes and ecosystems could be severely affected if the most extreme forecasts are realised.
Learning objectives:
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To understand how climate (precipitation and temperature) has changed over time in the UK
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To be able to classify the potential impacts of changing climate on the UK.
Key Teaching Resources
Changing UK Climate PowerPoint
Changing UK Climate PowerPoint (easier)
Changing UK Climate Worksheet
Changing UK Climate Worksheet (easier)
Changing UK Climate Homework
Changing UK Climate Futures Homework
Teacher CPD/ Extended Reading
Changing UK Climate_More for Teachers
Alternative or Extension Resources
How does climate change lead to changes in extreme weather? (reference material)
Steart Marshes – looking at the evidence for developing salt marshes to protect land from rising sea levels.
Graphs showing past and future changes in UK climate. Associated teaching resources can be found on the RGS website.
3D print the Central England Temperature record and use it in lessons.
Climate change in the UK and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
