KS5 Geography - rainforest: Water and carbon cycles

Overview

Carbon and water are essential to all life. Pupils will use Kew’s iconic Palm House to discover the physical processes which control these key cycles over time and delve into the role the rainforest plays within them.  

In this interactive session pupils investigate the importance of the rainforest in the water and carbon cycles and discover the impacts that human activity can have on these systems.

Using a real-life Kew project, pupils can consider techniques to assess carbon content of ecosystems and discover why this is necessary. 

Please note, elements of this session will be delivered outside. 

Learning outcomes

Pupils will be able to:

• Understand the key stages in the water and carbon cycles.
• Appreciate the importance of the role of the rainforest in the water and carbon cycles.
• Explain how human activity can impact or disrupt the water and carbon cycles.
• Describe how the carbon content of a forest can be assessed and understand the importance of this information.

We will ensure learning outcomes are relevant to your pupils and will focus on your chosen exam board.

Keywords

Rainforest, water cycle, carbon cycle, afforestation, deforestation, climate change, photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, carbon sequestration, carbon sink/source

Skills

Geographical information

Understand the nature of and use different types of geographical information, including:

• Qualitative and quantitative research.
• Images, maps, diagrams and graphical representations.
• Digital data.
• Numerical and spatial data.
• Collect, analyse and interpret such information, and demonstrate the ability to understand and apply suitable analytical approaches for the different information types.
• Communicate and evaluate findings, draw well-evidenced conclusions informed by wider theory, and construct extended written argument about geographical matters.

Qualitative and quantitative skills

• Interpretation and evaluation of a range of source material including textual and visual sources.
• Understanding of what makes data geographical and the geospatial technologies (e.g. GIS) that are used to collect, analyse and present geographical data.
• Collect and use digital and geo-located data, and understand a range of approaches to use and analyse such data.

Curriculum links