Fossil Fuels and Us

Lesson Overview

• Year Group: Year 2
• Subject: Geography
• Unit: Rocks, Fossils, Volcanoes Adventure – Lesson 5 of 6
• Lesson Duration: 60 minutes
• Class Size: 21 students
• Curriculum Area: KS1 Geography – Understanding how natural resources are used in daily life, environmental impact, and introducing sustainability.
• Lesson Objective:
  • Students will understand what fossil fuels are and how they are connected to fossils.
  • Students will learn about the uses of fossil fuels in daily life.
  • Students will discuss alternative renewable energy sources.

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Lesson Structure (60 Minutes)

1. Introduction – What Are Fossil Fuels? (10 Minutes)

• Begin by holding up a small rock and asking:
  "What if I told you this rock might hold energy from the past?"
• Explain that some rocks deep underground contain energy left behind by plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. This is where fossil fuels come from!
• Ask: "What do you think we use these special rocks for?"
• Show three simple visual flashcards of coal, oil, and gas and briefly explain how they are used:
  • Coal → Powers trains (historically) and electricity
  • Oil → Makes petrol for cars
  • Gas → Heats homes and cooks food

Interactive Element: Pass around a small (safe) lump of charcoal to represent coal and let students feel it.

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2. Connection to Fossils – Where Do They Come From? (10 Minutes)

• Show a picture of a dinosaur, an ancient plant, and an underwater creature.
• Ask: "Could these animals and plants still be giving us energy today?"
• Explain by drawing a simple step diagram on the board:
  1. Millions of years ago, dinosaurs, plants, and sea creatures died.
  2. Their remains got buried deep in the ground.
  3. Over time, heat and pressure turned them into fossil fuels!
• Use a fun movement activity: Ask students to act like a dinosaur, then lie down like it’s the past, then slowly get buried in the ground like fossils.

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3. Everyday Uses – Spot the Fossil Fuel! (15 Minutes)

• Display images of everyday things: cars, houses with radiators, a bus, a cooker, a train, a power station, a phone.
• Challenge students: Which of these uses fossil fuels?
• Sort them into “Fossil fuels power this” / “No fossil fuels here!” as a whole-class activity.
• Explain that our homes, schools, and transport all rely on fuel from the past!

Discussion Question: What do you think might happen if we use all the fossil fuels?
(Encourage students to think about running out or pollution.)

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4. Renewable Energy – What Can We Use Instead? (15 Minutes)

• Introduce the word "renewable" (energy we can make again and again!).
• Show pictures of:
  • Wind turbines → Energy from wind
  • Solar panels → Energy from the Sun
  • Hydropower → Energy from rivers
• Play a fun "match-the-energy" game:
  • Example Question: "Which one makes energy when it’s windy?" (Point to wind turbine)
• Ask for ideas:
  • "What do you think we could use when there’s no wind?"
  • "Where else can we find energy?"

5. Plenary – How Would We Travel in the Future? (10 Minutes)

• Creative Challenge:

  • Give each student a blank piece of card and some crayons or felt-tip pens.
  • Challenge them to draw a new transport vehicle that doesn’t need fossil fuels.
  • Ideas can include solar-powered buses, wind-powered boats, or even energy from waves!

• Class Sharing:

  • Ask a few students to explain their drawings in one or two sentences.
  • Reinforce that the future might use fewer fossil fuels to protect our planet!

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Assessment & Reflection

✅ Observation during discussions – Are students making connections between fossil fuels, daily use, and sustainability?
✅ Sorting Activity – Can students identify fossil fuel-powered items?
✅ Drawing Challenge – Are students applying knowledge of renewable energy?

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Resources & Materials

• Visual flashcards of coal, oil, gas
• A small (safe) lump of charcoal
• Large pictures of everyday objects powered by fossil fuels
• Printed pictures of wind turbines, solar panels, water power
• Blank cards and crayons for the creative challenge

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Differentiation & Support

• For students needing extra support: Provide pre-prepared matching cards for identifying fossil fuel-powered objects.
• For advanced learners: Challenge them with a question – "How would you design a school that doesn’t need fossil fuels?"

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Teacher's Final Thought

🌍 "Children, today you've discovered how fossils from long ago power our world today. But the future? That’s up to us!"

Let’s get ready for our final lesson in Unit 6 – "The Power of Volcanoes!" 🚀