Sustainability Education Handbook Sample Activities

Economics:

Theme: (7-12) Discuss the positive and negative aspects of free trade and globalization.

Goal: Students research the life cycle of one item they use daily (food, clothing, paper, game, etc). If possible, read articles and / or watch videos describing modern industry. Include: investigating where the object is made, how it is made, what resources are used, also discuss worker’s wages and corporation profits. Raise questions with your students such as: Is the cost of the object equal to the quality of the object? If it cost more to be made in the U.S. would you still purchase it? Why or why not? What do you need for a high quality of life?

Standards /MEAP:

»English Language Arts: I.3.5 (Meaning & Communication), IX. 11.1, IX.11.4 (Inquiry & Research)

»Social Studies: I.3.3 (Historical Perspective), II.1.1, II.1.2, II.5.2 (Geographic Perspective), IV.1.3 IV.2.2, IV.4.1, IV.4.2, IV.4.3, IV.4.4 (Economic Perspective)

» Mathematics: III.1.1, III.1.4 (Data Analysis & Statistics)

» Science: II.1.5 (Reflect on the Nature, Adequacy & Connections Across Scientific Knowledge), IV.2.4 (Use Scientific Knowledge from the Physical Sciences in Real-World Contexts)

Curriculum:

» Earth Matters: Studies for our Global Future (9-12)

Contact: Zero Population Growth (ZPG)1400 16^th St. NW. Suite 320, Washington, D.C. 20036

1-800-767-1956 or www.zpg.org/education or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

» Ecological Footprint: Leaving Shallow Footprints (6-12)

Contact: Redefining Progress, Mathis Wackernagel or Population Coalition, Monty and Marilyn Hempel, 1476 N. Indian Hill, Claremont, CA 91711, www.rprogress.org or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

» Social Investing ---www.socialinvesting.org