Unit+1.+What+is+Sustainability?

//** Anticipated Length of Unit: ** 21, 50-minute classes //
 * Sections ** : 8 Sections (0.1 through 1.7)

Sustainability is difficult to define. In part, this is because the challenges that we face are not just scientific or technical. Each of the technical challenges associated with sustainable use of Earth's resources is tightly interwoven with social and economic issues. This unit is designed to introduce students to the challenges of sustainability in an integrated, multidisciplinary fashion. The Unit begins by using students’ prior knowledge to outline key challenges. Two case studies introduce real-world solutions to some of these challenges and help students to imagine what a sustainable world would be like. An activity to investigate sustainability career paths provides additional detail. The remainder of the unit focuses on attempts to produce models of sustainable systems --- in a bottle, in the Biosphere II Project, and as NASA scientists work on plans to turn Mars into a planet that can support and sustain humans. During this unit labs and hands-on activities are used to introduce students to a laboratory procedures, documentation and data collection.

toc = 0.1 Pre-Activity - 20 Questions = //Anticipated length: variable but best used as 20 short questions at the beginning of classes as discussion starters. // Resources: = 1.1 Marooned – What is necessary for survival? = //Anticipated Length: 50 minutes //  Resources:
 * 1) Introduction to Sustainability [PowerPoint]
 * 1) Activity: Marooned!
 * 2) Teacher Instructions
 * 3) Student Report Form

= 1.2 Material Possessions and Sustainability = //Anticipated Length: 4 sessions of 50 minutes each// Resources:
 * 1) Activity: Material Possessions
 * 2) Teacher Instructions
 * 3) Using Gapminder - Video
 * 4) Student Report Form
 * 5) Gapminder World Map Handout
 * 6) Sample Images
 * 7) TED Talk: Hans Rosling: The Magic Washing Machine - Video

= 1.3 Food for Thought = // Anticipated Length: // Resources:

= 1.4 Making Connections = // Anticipated Length: 2 sessions of 50 minutes each // Resources:
 * 1) Activity: Making Connections to Prior Knowledge
 * 2) Teacher Instructions
 * 3) Challenges to Sustainability Student Report Form

= 1. 5 Sustainability in Practice = // Anticipated Length: // Resources: = = = 1.6 How Sustainable is your Hamburger? Applying the Four Principles of Sustainability = //Anticipated Length:// Resources: = = = 1.7 Career Paths - Sustainability = //Anticipated Length:// Resources:
 * 1) Activity: What Does a Sustainable World Look Like?
 * 2) Teacher Instructions
 * 3) Presentation
 * 4) Student Report Form
 * 5) National Step and Sustainability - Video
 * 1) Activity: Beef Supply Chain
 * 2) Student Report Form
 * 3) Activity: Max's Hamburgers Case Study
 * 4) Teacher Instructions
 * 5) Presentation
 * 6) Student Report Form
 * 1) Activity: Bioengineering Group Reading
 * 2) Nature and Engineering - PDF
 * 3) Group Reading Questions
 * 4) Answers to Group Reading Questions
 * 5) Activity: Careers in Sustainability
 * 6) Instructions
 * 7) Student Report Form
 * 8) Rubric
 * 9) Assessment: Summing It Up