Science KS 3 Unit 9G Environmental Chemistry

In this unit pupils:

• learn that rocks, soils and building materials have a variety of chemical characteristics.
• learn that chemical weathering alters rocks and building materials over time.
• consider how the atmosphere and water resources are affected by natural processes and the activity of humans.
• consider how environmental conditions are monitored and controlled.
• distinguish between different environmental issues.

In scientific enquiry pupils:

• consider how scientists work to monitor the environment.
• decide on the suitability of secondary sources for providing information on a particular question.
• consider how evidence for climate and environmental change needs careful interpretation
• evaluate the evidence obtained.
• investigate environmental change using evidence from secondary sources.

This unit is expected to take approximately 7 hours.

OTHER RESOURCES

• photographs and video clips of different rock formations, buildings, and rocks to illustrate weathering and sedimentation
• photographs of Cleopatra's Needle in London and similar obelisks in Egypt, illustrating weathering
• carbonate rocks, lime-cemented sandstone
• secondary sources for identifying local plants
• information about local environmental monitoring, eg of air and water quality, including ICT sources
• evidence indicative of air and/or water pollution at a particular time in the past, eg pictures, descriptions, records of legislation, medical records, extracts from novels
• simplified accounts, eg video information about climate change, of the greenhouse effect and the hole in the ozone layer