Burning plants as fuel (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability) | Science

Starter quiz

When a substance burns it often produces a ______.
- liquid
- flower
- flame ✓
How can you reverse the process of freezing a material?
- by warming it up ✓
- by cooling it down
- by burning it
- by dissolving it
Which of these is not in the fire triangle?
- high temperature
- oxygen
- carbon dioxide ✓
- fuel
Match the process to whether it is reversible or irreversible.
- burning
  
  ⇔
  
  irreversible ✓
- dissolving
  
  ⇔
  
  reversible ✓
What happens when something burns?
- the original products remain at the end
- new products are formed ✓
- some new products are formed but the original product still exists
Match the product formed by each of these processes:
- boiling water
  
  ⇔
  
  steam ✓
- burning
  
  ⇔
  
  smoke ✓

Exit quiz

Which type of professional would investigate which plants are the best ones to grow for 'biofuels'?
- zookeepers
- engineers ✓
- gardeners
- scientists ✓
Which of these do fuels produce?
- heat ✓
- sound
- light ✓
Scientists research alternative types of fuel because there is a limited amount of ______ fuel left.
- 'fossil' ✓
Where are fossil fuels found?
- in space
- in the atmosphere
- under the ground ✓
- on top of the ground
Plants are a ______ source of fuel as we can keep growing more.
- 'sustainable' ✓
What do biofuels release on burning?
- nothing
- oxygen
- carbon dioxide ✓

Worksheet

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Presentation

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

A fuel is something that can be used to produce heat or light.
Fossil fuels are found deep under Earth's surface and there is a limited amount left.
Plants are a sustainable source of fuel as we can keep growing more.
Like fossil fuels, biofuels release carbon dioxide on burning.
Scientists and engineers investigate which plants are the best ones to grow for biofuels.

Common misconception

There is an endless supply of fossil fuels on Earth. There are no downsides to biofuels.

Teaching slides will explain that fossil fuel is a finite resource and will introduce the pros and cons of electric cars. Children will have a chance to discuss this in task B.

Keywords

Burn - To burn is to be on fire.
Fossil fuels - Fossil fuels are fuels made over millions of years from fossilised plants and animals buried deep beneath Earth's surface.
Carbon dioxide - Carbon dioxide is a type of gas found in Earth's atmosphere.
Sustainable - Sustainable means using things in a way that doesn't use them up or harm the environment, so they can be used again in the future.
Biofuel - Biofuels are fuels made from plant materials.