Climate Change and Animals

In Climate Change & Animals, students will explore the impact of the changing climate on animals across the world through the lens of work carried out by ZSL's own scientists. Following a self-led investigation of real results collected by scientists in ZSL's Institute of Zoology, students are empowered to make a difference through a discussion of what they can do to reduce their impact.

Objects from the natural world used in this session are loaned to us by HM Revenue and Customs.

Age: KS4 (14-16 years)

Duration: 55mins

Capacity: 35 students

Indoor workshop

Coral reefs in the Maldives

Intended Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to:

Recall the science behind the greenhouse effect and give examples of how humans ‘enhance’ the greenhouse effect
Discuss a selection of common myths surrounding climate change
Give examples of the risks of climate change on animals, including humans
Give one example of a ZSL project that involves climate change research
Understand what they can do to reduce their carbon footprint

Online Teaching Resources:

Support your students' learning before, during or after a visit with our online teaching resources .

Specification Links:

AQA GCSE Biology (8461)

4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem	4.7.2.4 Impact of environmental change	Students should be able to evaluate the impact of environmental changes on the distribution of species in an ecosystem given appropriate information. The changes may be seasonal, geographic or caused by human interaction.
4.7.3 Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems	4.7.3.1 Biodiversity	The future of the human species on Earth relies on us maintaining a good level of biodiversity. Many human activities are reducing biodiversity and only recently have measures been taken to try to stop this reduction.
	4.7.3.5 Global warming	Students should be able to describe some of the biological consequences of global warming. Levels of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere are increasing, and contribute to ‘global warming’.

OCR GCSE (9-1) Gateway Science Biology A

Topic B6: Global challenges	B6.1 Monitoring and maintaining the environment	B6.1d evaluate the evidence for the impact of environmental changes on the distribution of organisms, with reference to water and atmospheric gases
Topic B6: Global challenges	B6.2 Feeding the human race	B6.2a describe some of the biological factors affecting levels of food security

Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Biology

Topic 9 – Ecosystems and material cycles

9.10 Explain the benefits of maintaining local and global biodiversity, including the conservation of animal species and the impact of reforestation