Learning Objectives To take part in a simple debate about topical issues. To realise that people and other living things have needs, and that we have responsibilities to meet them. To know what improves and harms our local, natural and built environments, and about some of the ways people look after them.

The sun warms us and gives us light during the day.

At night, and during the colder months, we need light and warmth from other sources…

…. and we also need heat for cooking.

Since early times, people have lit fires …. …. but fires make smoke, and are not convenient in modern homes.

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The electricity which we use is mostly made by burning coal or gas in power stations.

And our central heating boilers usually burn gas or oil.

The trouble is, this makes lots of ‘greenhouse’ gases which scientists believe are warming up the Earth and the air around it.

The ice in the arctic is melting, and the polar bears’ habitat is shrinking.

In some hot countries, there is less rain, and rivers are drying up.

In places the land is becoming so dry that the farmers can no longer grow crops.

So what can YOU do to stop global warming?

You can turn off the lights when you don’t need them!

Suggest that the grown ups who do the shopping buy energy saving light bulbs.

Ask an adult to turn the heating down a notch … and set the clock so that it is on for less time.

Remind everyone to keep the doors and windows shut when the heating is on, to keep the warmth in.

You wear clothes to keep in your body heat. Find out if your home is insulated to keep the warmth from escaping through the roof.

Ask the people who put the kettle on to fill it only with the amount of water that is needed. That way it will take less energy to bring it to the boil.

Remind the people who do the cooking to put lids on the saucepans to keep the heat in while the food is cooking?

Switch off! Don’t leave it on standby! If you can see a light like this when the TV is off, it is using almost as much energy as if it was on!

Glossary convenient – handy, suitable Source - starting place Habitat - home, surroundings Thermostat – a switch which turns something off when it reaches a given temperature. Insulation – material which isolates things from the outside air temperature.