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Climate change, carbon footprints and maths

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This feature will encourage students to explore the impact that lifestyle choices have on the environment, and will enable them to become more aware of the contributors to global emissions. Numbers to do with carbon emissions occur again and again in the public space, and it's important to be able to compare and contextualise them. The interactivities and problems are intended to develop students' carbon numeracy and can offer a springboard for follow-up conversations in and outside of the classroom.

You can read more about maths and climate change in these Plus Articles.

You can also watch a recording of the webinar in which we discussed the mathematical thinking which can be prompted by these activities.

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Food impacts

Age

11 to 18

Challenge level

In this interactivity you are asked to pair off different food types with the emissions created in their production.

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Comparing carbon savings

Age

11 to 18

Challenge level

This interactivity is designed to help you gain a better understanding of how changes to your lifestyle can reduce your carbon footprint.

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Eating for a better planet

Age

11 to 16

Challenge level

How do you balance the environmental impacts and nutritional benefits of different foods?

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Comparing carbon footprints

Age

11 to 18

Challenge level

This interactivity is designed to help you gain a better understanding of how your lifestyle choices can affect your carbon footprint.

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Waste and recycling

Age

14 to 18

Challenge level

Can you use the given information to work out how much plastic a family recycles?

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Frosty is melting!

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

Frosty the Snowman is melting. Can you work out how much less snow he contains when he is at half his starting height?

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Minimal connector

Age

14 to 18

Challenge level

Can you find the most efficient way to connect four towns?

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Frosty the Snowman

Age

16 to 18

Challenge level

Frosty the Snowman is melting. Can you use your knowledge of differential equations to find out how his volume changes as he shrinks?

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A frosty puddle

Age

16 to 18

Challenge level

Can you draw a sketch of how Frosty's volume changes as his height decreases?