Year 7 - Science
Global warming
Climate change and living sustainably
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit introduces the greenhouse effect, global warming and the impact of climate change on weather events. It explores some actions that can be taken to use resources, and to live, in a sustainable way.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe evidence for global warming and how it is related to human activities.
Key Notes
- Temperature data show an unusual, rapid increase in the Earth's average surface temperature over the last century or so.
- This recent increase in average surface temperature is called global warming.
- There is a correlation between data showing increasing temperature and data showing increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Most scientists agree that emissions from human activities are increasing the greenhouse effect, causing global warming.
Vocabulary To Learn
- greenhouse effect: the effect of some gases in the atmosphere that keep Earth's surface warmer than it would be without them
- data: observations and measurements
- global warming: an increase in Earth's average surface temperature
- correlation: a pattern in data that shows one factor changes as another factor changes
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Mixing up correlation and cause.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Temperature data show an unusual, rapid increase in the Earth's average surface temperature over the last century or so. This recent increase in average surface temperature is called global warming.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'greenhouse effect'
the effect of some gases in the atmosphere that keep Earth's surface warmer than it would be without them. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Mixing up correlation and cause. Correction: This lesson explores the correlation between data showing global warming and data showing increases in greenhouse gas emission, and that 99% of scientists believe the increased greenhouse effect is the causal link.
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