Year 8 - Citizenship
Why is fracking controversial?
What can we do about global problems?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
Using a range of case studies from human rights to fracking and climate action, pupils consider how they can take responsible action to tackle some of the challenges currently facing society.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe what fracking is and explain the risks and benefits of fracking.
Key Notes
- Supporters argue fracking creates jobs, lowers energy prices and reduces reliance on imports in uncertain times.
- Some countries have banned fracking due to risks like pollution, earthquakes, wildlife disruption and climate impact.
- Alternatives to fracking include renewable energy, nuclear, geothermal, biomass energy and improving energy efficiency.
- The UK Government shifted its stance on fracking, halting it in 2019 due to environmental risks and earthquakes.
Vocabulary To Learn
- fracking: a method of drilling into the Earth to extract oil and natural gas by injecting high-pressure fluids to crack rocks and release the resources trapped inside
- renewable energy: energy that comes from natural sources like the Sun, wind and water, which are constantly replenished and won't run out
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Fracking shale gas is more environmentally friendly than other gas and fossil fuels.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Supporters argue fracking creates jobs, lowers energy prices and reduces reliance on imports in uncertain times. Some countries have banned fracking due to risks like pollution, earthquakes, wildlife disruption and climate impact.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'fracking'
a method of drilling into the Earth to extract oil and natural gas by injecting high-pressure fluids to crack rocks and release the resources trapped inside.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Fracking shale gas is more environmentally friendly than other gas and fossil fuels. Correction: Whilst shale gas releases less CO2 than coal and oil, it is still not a renewable energy source and has several other negative environmental impacts, such as using huge amounts of water.
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