Does climate change only matter to polar bears? In Climate Change & Animals, students will discuss how our changing climate affects people and animals around the world. Using case studies of animals they can see in the zoo to illustrate each issue, students will investigate the different impacts of climate change on wildlife, and find out how they can take action to help.
Age group: Years 7-11 (Key Stage 3 and 4, Ages 11-16)
Duration: 45-55 minutes
Learning Space: Activity Den
Capacity: 35 students
National Curriculum and specification links:
KS3 Geography - programme of study (2014)
Human and physical geography
- understand how human and physical processes interact to influence and change landscapes, environments and the climate; and how human activity relies on the effective functioning of natural systems
KS3 Science - programme of study (2014)
Biology
Interactions and interdependencies
Relationships in an ecosystem
- how organisms affect, and are affected by, their environment, including the accumulation of toxic materials
Genetics and evolution
Inheritance, chromosomes, DNA and genes
- changes in the environment which may leave individuals within a species, and some entire species, less well adapted to compete successfully and reproduce, which in turn may lead to extinction
GCSE Examination Board Syllabi links:
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AQA |
OCR |
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AQA Biology & Science A (2014) B1.4 Interdependence and Adaptation evaluate data concerned with the effect of environmental changes on the distribution and behaviour of living organisms B1.4.2. Environmental Changeb) Animals and plants are subjected to environmental changes. Such changes may be caused by living or non-living factors such as a change in a competitor or in the average temperature or rainfall. d) Environmental changes can be measured using non-living indicators such as oxygen levels, temperature and rainfall. B2.8.1. Speciation (AQA Biology only)e) Extinction may be caused by changes to the environment
AQA Additional Science (2014)
B2.8.1. Old and new speciese) Extinction may be caused by changes to the environment
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OCR GCSE Biology A (2014)
3.4.3 Module B3: Life on Earth B3.3.6. understand that the rate of extinction of species is increasing and why this is likely to be due to human activity
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Intended learning outcomes:
Students will be able to:
- Explain how climate change is affected by human behaviour.
- Give three examples of impacts of climate change on animals.
- Consider how they can positively change their behaviour: turning off “standby” appliances.
Many objects from the natural world used in this session are loaned to us by HM Revenue and Customs.
For this session
Before your visit to the zoo:
- Use this Climate Change & Animals information sheet:
Pre-visit session information - Climate Change & Animals (690.44 KB) - Use this sustainability resource sheet: 2015-16 Sustainability Student Workbook 1 KS3 KS4 (1.07 MB)
- As a class, list the problems that are caused by climate change. In groups, students choose an animal that they think might be affected by each issue, and write a story explaining how.
While at the Zoo:
- Use the photocopiable worksheet on the reverse of the Climate Change and Animals information sheet to encourage pupils to make observations of some of the Zoo’s endangered animals and think about the interdependence of life on Earth.
- Use this worksheet on sustainability and palm oil: 2015-16 Sustainability Student Workbook 2 KS3 KS4 (1.65 MB)
- During the session we investigate the impact of climate change on several Zoo animals. You may wish to visit some of these on your way around the Zoo:
| Animals | Location |
| Ring-tailed lemurs | In with the Lemurs |
| Sumatran tigers | Tiger Territory |
| Coral | BUGS & Aquarium |
| Frogs and snakes | Reptile House |
| Rainforest animals (monkeys, birds, sloths, insects) | Rainforest Life |
After your visit to the zoo:
- Ask students to research the different actions people take to stop climate change. In groups, choose one action, and design a poster or video that encourages others to help.
