Teacher guide · Real Life Lab · Harder · about 35 min

🌡️ Climate Change Detectives

Pupils practise curiosity and real life thinking through "Climate Change Detectives": Causes, effects and what we can do.

Lesson guide

1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 🌡️ mission title and read the opening: "Which gas is the main cause of climate change?". Take three quick guesses.
2. Model · 5 min
Think aloud through the first step together. Use Coin the Raccoon's line as your prompt: "Smart call. Money and time both count."
3. Do · 10 min
Pairs work through the 4 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"
4. Discuss · 10 min
Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.
5. Reflect · 5 min
Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used curiosity today.

What was the hardest choice in "Climate Change Detectives", and why?
Which gas is the main cause of climate change — explain your reasoning to a partner.
Explain which action helps most and why — explain your reasoning to a partner.
Where could you use curiosity outside school this week?
If you did this again, what would you change?

Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.

Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.

National Curriculum: Geography: locational knowledge, place and map skills
National Curriculum: Maths: money, measures and solving real-world problems
PSHE: Living in the wider world: economic wellbeing — money, saving and choices
PSHE: Health & wellbeing: keeping safe and everyday responsibilities

Pupil sheet

Name: ____________________ Date: __________

1. Which gas is the main cause of climate change?
☐ Carbon dioxide
☐ Helium
☐ Oxygen
2. Match the cause to the effect.
Melting ice → ________________
Cutting forests → ________________
Hotter oceans → ________________
More heat → ________________
3. Your school has 20 green points. Pick at least 3 actions.
Budget: £20
☐ Solar panels — £10
☐ Walk-to-school week — £3
☐ Plant trees — £5
☐ Recycling bins — £4
☐ Switch-off monitors — £2
Total spent: £______
4. Explain which action helps most and why.