Download Activity Sheep Burps Key Learning Students will investigate the

Episode 3
19th February 2013
Activity
Sheep Burps
Key Learning
Students will investigate the impact that greenhouse gas emissions have on the environment.
The Australian Curriculum > Earth and Environmental Science / The changing Earth – the cause
and impact of Earth hazards / Science Understanding / The cause and impact of global climate
change
Content description
Human activities, particularly land-clearing and fossil fuel consumption, produce gases (including carbon dioxide,
methane, nitrous oxide and hydrofluorocarbons) and particulate materials that change the composition of the
atmosphere and climatic conditions (for example, the enhanced greenhouse effect). Code ACSES105
The Australian Curriculum > Science / Science as a Human Endeavour / Use and influence of
science
Content description
General capabilities
Literacy
Scientific understandings, discoveries and inventions are used
to solve problems that directly affect peoples’ lives. Code
ACSHE100
Personal and social capability
Critical and creative thinking
Cross-curriculum priorities
Sustainability
Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia
Focus Questions
1. What was the main point of the Sheep Burps story?
2. Complete the following sentence. When many animals, like sheep and cows, fart and burp they release
__________.
3. Why is methane considered so bad for the environment?
4. Describe the experiment that the scientists in this story conducted.
5. How do the scientists capture the methane?
6. What gas remedy have the scientists found that is thought to reduce the amount of methane produced
by sheep?
7. It is hoped the amount of methane emissions will:
a. Increase
b. Decrease
c.
Stay the same
8. List three facts that you learnt from this story.
9. Do you think it is important to address the issue of climate change? Explain your answer.
10. Draw a diagram representing the experiment conducted in this story.
©ABC 2013
Activity
K-W-L-H organiser
After watching the BtN Sheep Burps story, working in pairs, ask students to discuss and record what they
already know about climate change. What questions were raised in the discussion (what are the gaps in their
knowledge)? The following K-W-L-H organiser provides students with a framework to explore their prior
knowledge on this topic and consider what they would like to know and learn.
What do I know?
What do I want to
know?
What have I learnt?
How will I find out?
Use the questions recorded in the KWHL chart to guide students' research. They may choose to research
questions of interest or questions set for small groups to address.
Students can investigate their own questions or some of the following:
 What is methane and where does it come from?
 How is methane impacting on the environment?
 What is the definition of climate change?
 In your own words describe the ‘greenhouse effect’.
 What is global warming?
 Research what the ozone layer is and then illustrate.
Encourage students to share their research with the class. Interesting ways to present the information
include:
 Diagram/flow chart
 Information report
 Prezi presentation http://prezi.com/index/
 Brochure
 Oral presentation
 Web page
 Glogster http://www.glogster.com/
Time Capsule activity
Ask students to discuss their understanding about climate change and how the wider community is
addressing the issue.
To engage students in the process ask the class to brainstorm what people are currently doing to reduce
their impact on climate change.
What is currently being done to reduce our impact on climate change?
Governments
©ABC 2013
Businesses
School communities
Homes/families
Prompt students to think about climate change by asking questions such as:



In what ways does your school use energy? Has there been any action to reduce energy use? How
would this help the environment?
What does your family do to reduce its impact on climate change?
What campaigns have been produced by local, state or federal governments to encourage people to
reduce their impact on the environment? Contact your local council to see what campaigns they
have produced.
Make a time capsule
The time capsule could use images from magazines, newspapers or students' own drawings to convey
their ideas. Students could also make predictions about what they think the future will be like. The time
capsule could document how governments, business, school communities and homes and families are
trying to become more sustainable. Provide the following prompt for students to use when writing their
short essay: 'when you open this time capsule in the year 2020 I think ...’
Further Investigation
Test your knowledge on the BtN Climate Change quiz.
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/quiz.htm?file=/btn/quiz/js/2012-35climatechange.js
CarbonKids is an innovative educational program for primary and middle schooling years that combines the
latest in environmental science with education in sustainability. Consider registering to become a
CarbonKids school. http://www.csiro.au/Portals/Education/Teachers/Classroomactivities/CarbonKids/CarbonKids-program.aspx
 Related Research Links
ABC Catalyst – Future Farm
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/3685323.htm
CSIRO – Reducing livestock methane emissions
http://www.csiro.au/Outcomes/Food-and-Agriculture/livestock-methane-emissions.aspx
State Government Victoria – Greenhouse gas emissions
http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/greenhouse-gas-emissions
ABC Catalyst – Methane: The Forgotten Gas
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2373958.htm
©ABC 2013