Climate Change, Carbon Footprints and Maths

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.

 

 

Eating for a Better Planet 

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level
How do you balance the environmental impacts and nutritional benefits of different foods?

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.

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.

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.

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?

Waste and Recycling 

Age 14 to 18
Challenge Level
Can you use the given information to work out how much plastic a family recycles?

Minimal Connector 

Age 14 to 18
Challenge Level
Can you find the most efficient way to connect four towns?

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?

A Frosty Puddle 

Age 16 to 18
Challenge Level
Can you draw a sketch of how Frosty's volume changes as his height decreases?