What Is a Carbon Footprint?

Good question! A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, that come from our activities. This includes things like driving cars, using electricity and even the production of the goods we buy. Both direct emissions (like those from our cars) and indirect emissions (like those from manufacturing products) add to our carbon footprint.

Understanding our carbon footprint is important because it helps us see how much we contribute to climate change. By reducing our carbon emissions, we can help protect the environment, save resources and support sustainable living. This awareness also encourages businesses and governments to adopt greener practices, leading to a healthier planet for everyone!

Explore How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

This poster and accompanying comprehension worksheet are the perfect way to help your students understand the many simple actions they can take in their everyday lives to help reduce their carbon footprint. Information on the poster includes:

• Reduce energy use. Turn off all electrical appliances when you are not using them.
• Change the way you think about transportation. Ride your bike or walk instead of taking the car.
• Make every drop count. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth or washing your hands and have quick showers.
• Make sure you put any products that can be recycled in the recycling bin.
• Reuse something again or in a different way.
• See if any broken items can be fixed before throwing them away and buying a new one.
• Think about whether you really need more toys or items that will one day end up as landfill.
• Try to have as little plastic bags and wrappers in your lunchbox as possible.
• If you can, plant new trees in your garden.

Students will read and analyse the poster about how to reduce their carbon footprint, then answer a series of questions about the topic using evidence from the text. This could be completed as a whole-class, small-group or independent activity.

Download to Learn How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

This resource can be downloaded as a full-colour PDF or editable Google Slides (worksheets only). Use the dropdown menu on the Download button above to access your preferred version.

As these files contain answer pages, we recommend printing one copy of the entire file, then selecting and removing the pages you wish to photocopy for the students.

Michael Bailey, a Teach Starter collaborator, contributed to this resource.

More Sustainability Activities for Your Classroom

Looking for more activities to explore conservation and sustainability with your students? Click on the resources below to add to your collection!

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