This is a lesson which meets specification points within the WJEC GCSE ‘The Sciences’ Double Award (2026) spec, specifically from Unit 2.4 - The Earth’s essential resources (Chemistry).

The lesson starts with an overview of the key vocabulary which students will be learning and using this lesson. Students can stick their key word lists into their books before the lesson begins.

The lesson begins with a video on the greenhouse effect, pupils will be supplied with some questions to answer whilst watching the video. Once complete this task can then be self-assessed using the answers provided. Pupils will then need to be required to complete a diagram of the greenhouse effect by adding in statements to the correct boxes, this work can also be self-assessed using the mark scheme.

Pupils will now think about the factors which have contributed to the rise in carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Firstly they will need to ‘Think > Pair > Share’ their ideas of why there has been a sharp increase in CO2 over the last 100 years or so, pupils will then share their ideas with the class and some of the factors can be revaled via the PowerPoint presentation.

Pupils will now be given some information on the mean global temperature change over time, they will need to plot the data onto a graph, then write a sentence to summarise what the results show. The answers are provided within the PowerPoint so students can assess their work.

The plenary task requires pupils to summarise what they have learned this lesson in three sentences.