Objective:

To understand the natural causes of climate change

Materials needed: Chalkboard, text books

Introduce the topic:

Start by drawing the sun and land on the chalkboard. Explain that climate change is a natural process caused by variations in temperatures, sunshine and rainfall. Although there are human activities that contribute to climate change, there are also natural causes.

Explain the natural causes:

Using the chalkboard, explain the three natural causes of climate change:

1. Variations in Earth’s orbit: This refers to how our planet moves around the Sun, which affects the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth’s surface.

2. Solar radiation: The Sun’s output of radiation changes slowly over time. When there is more radiation, temperatures tend to increase.

3. Volcanic activity: Volcanic eruptions release large amounts of ash and gas into the atmosphere, which can block out the sun and cause cooling.

Discuss the effects:

Explain that natural causes of climate change can have both positive and negative effects. For example, warming temperatures can cause snow and ice to melt and sea levels to rise, which can be destructive to coastal areas. On the other hand, colder temperatures can cause plants and animals to adapt to new environments, leading to increased biodiversity.

Conclusion:

Now that you understand the natural causes of climate change, discuss the implications for the future. Explain that although these processes are natural, human activities can exacerbate their effects. The more we understand about climate change, the better equipped we’ll be to adapt and prepare for its impacts.