Students will begin by comparing the range of temperatures on the Earth, Mars and the Moon, using the student worksheet ‘Temperature: from one extreme to another!’ They will have to plot the temperature over a ten-day period from 4 September to 13 September, as measured by three different craft that landed on the...

This activity uses satellite images of the Earth to show how a glacier has changed over almost three decades. Children are asked to measure the glacier to find out how much it has changed in size and to compare false-colour images to suggest how this helps us find out more about environmental change. Guidance on...

In this activity children take on the role of Earth observation scientists submitting a request for an image they would like for their research. This gives them the opportunity to consider the possibilities of pictures taken from orbit (and the limitations) and to write scientifically for a specific audience. It...

These activity sheets give pupils the opportunity to look in greater depth at the similarities and differences between Mars and Earth. The activities focus on Mars’ place in the solar system and facts about Mars and Earth before giving pupils the opportunity to design their own Martians using what they have learnt...

These activities, produced by Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme, challenge students to look at tabulated data and produce a suitable graph to emphasise the key findings of the data. Tables of information are supplied on different topics including human physiology, atmospheric composition on different planets and...

A Catalyst article about ice cores from Antarctica which contain air bubbles which record the changing atmosphere. The Antarctic ice sheet is over 3 kilometres thick; ice cores enable scientists to sample each year of snow fall in sequence. This evidence is vital in understanding how the climate is changing. The...

In this series of activities from the Science Museum, students understand the carbon cycle, how it has been affected by our use of fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution and how this underlies current worries about climate change. Students gain an atom's eye view of the carbon cycle and play out how the...

Produced by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), this colour wall chart describes ExoMars, the second European Space Agency (ESA) mission to visit Mars. ExoMars is part of a joint two-part mission funded by ESA and NASA. In 2016 the ESA-led mission will launch an orbiter and short-lived lander. The...

This video demonstrates how the pressure exerted by the atmosphere (10,000kg on an average person) can implode a large drum when the air inside the drum is removed (Heat water to vaporise and remove all air. Condense the vapour by cooling the drum). 

Notes

The scientists states that...

This set of activities for students builds toward them being able to answer the question 'Assess whether the UK is becoming more extreme in the 21st century.'  Initially students are asked to define the terms 'rare' and 'extreme' and then order the layers of the Earth's atmosphere. This is followed by tasks to:...