Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Geography
Lesson Topic: Energy budgets: systems, global and seasonal variations, transfers, diurnal changes
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the main components of the Earth’s energy budget and their typical flux values.
  • Explain how solar insolation varies with latitude, season, and time of day.
  • Analyse the four mechanisms of atmospheric energy transfer and their role in climate.
  • Evaluate how feedbacks such as ice‑albedo and water‑vapour modify the energy balance.
  • Apply the energy‑balance equation to assess the impact of a greenhouse‑gas forcing.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen
  • PowerPoint/Google Slides presentation on the energy budget
  • Printed worksheet with budget tables and calculation tasks
  • Scientific calculators
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Laptop for an interactive climate‑model simulation
 Introduction:

Begin with a striking image of Earth’s night‑side glow to spark curiosity about why some places stay warm while others cool rapidly. Ask students what they already know about incoming solar energy versus outgoing heat. State that by the end of the lesson they will be able to explain the full energy budget and predict how changes in greenhouse gases shift the balance.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5’) – Quick quiz on radiation vs. convection from the previous lesson.
  2. Mini‑lecture (15’) – Present the components of the energy budget with the flow‑chart diagram.
  3. Data‑analysis activity (20’) – In pairs, students complete a budget table using given flux values and calculate the net radiative balance.
  4. Interactive simulation (10’) – Explore seasonal and diurnal variations using an online climate model; discuss observed patterns.
  5. Feedbacks discussion (10’) – Guided conversation on ice‑albedo, water‑vapour, and cloud feedbacks; students record key points on sticky notes.
  6. Formative check (5’) – Exit ticket: one sentence summarising how increased greenhouse gases affect the Earth’s energy budget.
Conclusion:

Recap the five main components of the energy budget and how they interact across daily and seasonal cycles. Collect exit tickets to gauge understanding and clarify any misconceptions. Assign homework: complete a short worksheet calculating the radiative forcing for a 50 ppm increase in CO₂.