Primary Climate Change Conference

Welcome to the very first digital Science Art and Writing conference brought to you by the Food and Farming Discovery Trust, the SAW Trust, St Peter Mancroft Church, The University of East Anglia and the John Innes Centre.

Introduction

Begin by downloading the Science Session Teacher Notes from the link below.

*The materials are listed at the top and the pictures throughout can be copied out for use on the whiteboard by using the snipping tool!  

To start the conference, here’s a welcome video from wildlife presenter Lizzie Daly.

Warm up activity

Before we delve deep into the topic of Climate Change let’s start by recapping on some of the points Lizzie raised.

Science Session

Approx. 1hr 45mins

Section 1 – Greenhouse Gases

Activity 1 - Greenhouse Gases Role Play

This activity gets the class to act out 3 different scenarios to help them understand the role of greenhouse gases and why our planet is getting warmer.

Section 2 – Extreme Weather

Activity 2 - Rising Sea Levels

This activity will help the children explore the difference between the effects of melting icebergs and the melting of glaciers on land to explore the relative effects on sea level rise.

Section 3 – Food Production and Soils

Activity 3 – Food and Crops Matching Game

Does your class know where their food comes from? In this game match the food product to the crop it is made from.

Now we have looked at the pressures above ground for growing crops in a warming climate we are going to take a journey underground to discover how soils can help us store carbon.  

*Play sections from the Secrets of Soil video as described in the teacher notes both before and after the next video.

We've learned how important soils are so now lets hear from a farmer who is doing his bit for the climate crisis by changing the way he grows crops to create a healthier soil to store more carbon. Then return back to the Secrets of soil video for the final part of the science session.  

Writing Session

Approx. 1hr 30mins

Begin by downloading the Writing Session Teacher Notes from the link below.

Play the video by Sara Skarp and look out for the cue to pause for Activity 1.

Activity 1 - How Can You Be Heard?

Shouting exercise – yes! A loud, but powerful way of demonstrating collective action. Plus – a great anxiety and tension release for all ages.

Play the following video by Mike O'Driscoll and look out for the cues to pause as you work through activities 2, 3 and 4.  

Activity 2 - Writing warm up

This activity encourages the class to explore the new vocabulary learnt during the science session as well as similes and metaphors that can be used to form their own poem.

Activity 3 and 4 - Poetry task and finding your pledge to the planet

During this activity, children will be encouraged to write a freeform or structured poem inspired by the science of climate change and choose their own pledge to the planet.

Art Session

Approx 1hr 45 mins

Begin by downloading the Art Session Teacher Notes from the link below.

Play the video to show the class Luke Jerram's Gaia  

Activity 1 - The Power of Art

How effective is art as a tool to communicate with society? Get the class to discuss their views.

Activity 2 – Planet and Pledges

Follow along with Chris Hann's art video to create a group piece of art work inspired by Luke Jerram’s Gaia, complete with your own pledges to the planet.