Humans to blame for global warming

At the February 2007 Paris Conference on Global Ecological Governance, the Intergovernment Panel on Climate Change concluded that human activity is now 90% likely to be the cause of global warming. The Brussels Conference, in April, clearly outlined the potential impacts of this change and emphasised the need to act without delay to protect the planet from both the present and future impact of carbon emissions.

Work with your pupils to show them why energy should not be wasted in the activities below:

5–7s: Save energy

7–11s: On the trail of the energy wasters

Are renewable energy sources the key to Africa’s energy crisis?

Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, has recently said that renewable energy sources may hold the key to Africa’s energy crisis. ‘The continent is rich in renewable resources which can benefit the majority of people within a few years… Africa should look at their own resources for their development needs.’

Africa's development depends on electricity, as all services such as schools and hospitals rely on it – but more than 80% of its population is without electricity. By 2030 the global annual growth rate of the population is expected to be 60 million with 97% of this population growth being in developing countries. Steiner has written that, ‘No country has ever reduced poverty without investing substantially in energy. Energy is central to all human development.’

Find out why renewable energy sources are important in the activity below:

5–7s: Energy sources

Find out more about how Energy Town can go renewable in the activities link below:

7–11s: The town is going renewable

Saturday Night Fever

Remind pupils that they need their own energy to get themselves moving, both for the body and mind. Try the ‘Saturday Night Fever’ move using outstretched arms and pointed index fingers to ‘cross the midline’ ie left forefinger points up and across to the right then right forefinger points up and across to the left! Get the body moving in a dance-like rhythm and repeat. Got it? Now roll fists forwards and up as you call out ‘Roll up!’ then backwards and down as you call out ‘Roll down!’

Let’s talk about energy!

Start a class discussion about energy with the following questions and get your pupils thinking about how energy can be saved and why this is important.

‘Where does our fuel come from?’

‘What energy sources are needed to get us that fuel?’

‘Do we waste some of this energy? How can we save it?’

‘Does energy usage damage our planet? If so, what can we do about it?’

Then work with your pupils with the activities below to find out more about what energy is and why it is needed.

5–7s: What is energy?

7–11s: Energy at home

England

In England the DfES Sustainable Schools programme is encouraging schools to bring the topics of sustainable development and climate change into whole school management practices, including curriculum content. The recent curriculum review proposes introducing these topics into the geography curriculum by 2008.

Scotland

In Scotland curriculum matters are currently under review. A Curriculum for Excellence aims to provide more freedom for teachers, greater choice for pupils and develop a single coherent curriculum for all young people aged 3–18. From August 2007 there will be a year of familiarisation, preparation and development with ongoing continued professional development. The implementation of A Curriculum for Excellence will begin in August 2008.

Wales

In Wales, after ACCAC’s review of the curriculum, revised programmes of study for science for Key Stages 1–4 will be introduced from 2008.

Did you know that...?

• The average home emits more harmful carbon dioxide gas than the average car.
• Each year televisions, DVD and video recorders in the United Kingdom consume around £150 million worth of electricity while on standby.
• If everyone boiled only the water they needed, instead of filling the kettle every time, we could save enough electricity in one year to run more than three quarters of the street lights in the country.