Climate Crisis – Winchester Cathedral 2021

The focus in Year 6 is the COP26, rising temperatures across the globe and what this means. 

The children were introduced to a graphic showing the changes in temperature by looking at the annual mean temperatures of the planet since 1850.  They then wrote an explanation of the data set.  The classes discussed the data and predicted the effect upon the Earth with the rising temperatures for their lifetime.  The causal influences of pollution were identified and discussed at length; rising atmospheric carbon dioxide level due to increased burning of fossil fuels; deforestation; dumping waste in landfill (methane produced); over-consumption of meat and dairy (intensive farming) which leads to the release of nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere; volcanic activity (carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere - St Vincent) and solar output.  

The children then wrote a paragraph about their prediction of the effect of rising temperatures of climate change on:

The UK

• Sea levels could rise, in particular East England.

• Scottish ski resorts will have to close lack of snow – tourism, economy.

• Floods; displacement, loss of work.

• Increased demand for water in hotter summers – increased use of hot tubs. Decreased water

  levels. Wasteful with water.

Around the world

• Rise in sea level will affect 80 million people.

• Tropical storms will increase in strength (magnitude).

• Species in affected areas; e.g. Arctic/Antarctic will be reduced or face extinction; disruption to food

  chains/webs.

• Increase in malaria (mosquitos damp areas) an extra 280 million might be affected.

• Increased fires; deforestation; loss of biodiversity and habitat loss.

Click on the PDF below to find out more about the work undertaken by the children.

As part of our environmental curriculum, the children learn about climate breakdown and gain an understanding of the causes and effects of mankind's activities that have contributed to this.  The children used the pattern and structure of This is The House That Jack Built to construct a poem that explores a chain of consequences that have contributed to the climate emergency.