Global Challenges and Sustainability · Semester 2

Causes & Impacts of Climate Change

Understanding the science of climate change, its global repercussions, and specific threats to low-lying island nations.

About This Topic

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. This topic introduces students to the science of global warming, how human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation are increasing greenhouse gases and causing the Earth's temperature to rise. Students explore the global repercussions, such as melting ice caps and more extreme weather, and specifically how these threats affect a low-lying island nation like Singapore.

For P6 students, this topic is a call to action. It connects to the MOE syllabus on 'Global Challenges and Sustainability.' This topic comes alive when students can physically model the patterns of the 'Greenhouse Effect' through hands-on experiments and simulations of rising sea levels on a model island.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: The Melting Island

Students use a tray with a 'clay island' and ice cubes to represent glaciers. As the ice melts (representing global warming), they observe how the 'sea level' rises and which parts of their island are flooded first, illustrating Singapore's vulnerability.

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

Generate mission

Inquiry Circle: The Carbon Footprint of My Lunch

Groups choose a common meal and research where the ingredients come from and how they were produced. They create a 'Carbon Map' showing the energy used for transport and farming, discussing how our food choices affect the planet.

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

Generate mission

Think-Pair-Share: Why is 1.5 Degrees Important?

Students discuss why scientists say we must stop the Earth from warming more than 1.5 degrees. They share their ideas to understand that even a small change in average temperature can cause massive changes in the world's weather and ecosystems.

⏱ 25 min·Pairs

Generate mission

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Students may think that climate change is just about 'hotter weather.'

What to Teach Instead

It also causes more intense storms, floods, and changes in where food can grow. Using 'Weather Data' from different years can help students see that the 'climate' is about long-term patterns, not just the daily 'weather'.

Common Misconception

Pupils often believe that they are too small to make a difference in a global problem.

What to Teach Instead

Individual actions (like saving energy) add up, and young people can influence their families and communities. A 'Power of One' brainstorm can help students identify specific, impactful changes they can make at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main causes of climate change?

The main cause is the 'greenhouse effect,' where certain gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun. Human activities, such as burning coal, oil, and gas for energy, and cutting down forests, have greatly increased these gases, leading to a rapid rise in the Earth's average temperature.

How does global warming affect Singapore specifically?

As a low-lying island, Singapore is very vulnerable to rising sea levels, which could flood parts of the city. We also face more intense rainfall (leading to flash floods) and longer dry spells. Hotter temperatures also increase the risk of heat-related illnesses and affect our energy and water use.

How can active learning help students understand the science of climate change?

Active learning strategies like 'Greenhouse Simulations' and 'Sea-Level Modeling' turn invisible gases and slow processes into visible, immediate results. When students can 'see' the impact of their choices in a model, the science becomes much more real and urgent. This hands-on approach builds a deeper, more lasting understanding of why we must act now.

What is a 'carbon footprint'?

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions. This includes the energy we use at home, the way we travel, and the things we buy and eat. Students can use online calculators to estimate their own footprint and find ways to reduce it.

Browse curriculum by country

• Americas
• US
• CA
• MX
• CL
• CO
• BR

• Europe
• UK
• IE
• FR
• DE
• ES
• IT
• NL
• PT
• SE

• Asia & Pacific
• IN
• SG
• AU