Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Back to Study HubBrowse Year 6 Science Guides

Year 6 - Science

What carbon is (non-statutory)

Climate change and sustainability (non-statutory)

Unit Summary

This unit examines our climate and the factors affecting it. Emphasis is on using data, taking precise measurements, recording data, and presenting findings.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain that carbon is in many things and only some forms are harmful.

Key Notes

  • Diamonds and the graphite used in pencil leads are both made of carbon, and these forms are harmless.
  • Carbon is in the fossil fuels natural gas, crude oil and coal.
  • Carbon dioxide is not dangerous; it is in the air we breathe and we add it to fizzy drinks.
  • Carbon is in carbon dioxide gas, which is produced when we burn fossil fuels.
  • Carbon dioxide is causing problems as it builds up to high levels in a greenhouse gas 'blanket' around Earth.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • carbon: Carbon is a substance which can be found in many different materials and all living things.
  • fossil fuel: A fossil fuel is a natural fuel formed from the remains of living things over millions of years, such as coal, crude oil or natural gas.
  • carbon dioxide: Carbon dioxide is a type of gas.
  • burn: When something burns, it is on fire.
  • greenhouse gases: Gases which contribute towards global warming are called greenhouse gases.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may think that carbon dioxide is inherently harmful due to the way information about climate change is often presented.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

Diamonds and the graphite used in pencil leads are both made of carbon, and these forms are harmless. Carbon is in the fossil fuels natural gas, crude oil and coal.

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'carbon'

Carbon is a substance which can be found in many different materials and all living things. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils may think that carbon dioxide is inherently harmful due to the way information about climate change is often presented. Correction: Explain that carbon dioxide is not necessarily harmful; it is in the air we breathe and it is vital for the survival of plants. It can, however, become problematic as levels in the atmosphere increase and cause a warming effect.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 6 Science guide library.