2.+Are+We+Sustainable?

//Anticipated Length: 4-5 sessions of 50 minutes each//

This lesson consists of 4 to 5 days of instructional materials. The first activity, __//Material World//__, asks students to consider the role of personal possessions play for families from a range of economic and cultural backgrounds. Is it possible to determine which are necessary for survival and for sustainable human activities? The next activity, __//Making Connections to Prior Knowledge//__, leads students through the process of recalling prior knowledge and identify questions that they have about sustainability in order to define the STEM challenges of sustainability. The second and third lessons, __//What Does a Sustainable World Look Like?//__ explores steps that can be taken to encourage more sustainable practices in businesses and communities and ends with a case study of fast-food restaurant chain that has applied The Natural Step 4 principles in order to become a more sustainable business.

• Students will be able to define sustainability • Students will be able to present examples of sustainable and unsustainable practices • Students will be able to identify principles that can be applied to companies and communities to support sustainable choices

Resources:
 * Description || Materials || N.C. Essential Standards ||
 * **MATERIAL WORLD**

//Students explore the range of possesions families in different parts of the world accumulate and value. They use this information to consider which of these material goods are necessary for survival and are sustainable.//

//Additional Sources of information for teachers are included in the Teacher Instructions.// ||  ||   || //During this activity students will be asked to list their prior knowledge about sustainability and also, to identify topics related to sustainability for which they would like an explanation. The activity begins with a short individual writing task followed by a small group discussion.// //.// //The purpose of the activity is to generate a list of the key issues in sustainability that will be examined in greater detail throughout the course.// //.// || || EEn 2.7.1 Explain how human activities impact the biosphere.
 * **MAKING CONNECTIONS**

Bio 2.1 Analyze the interdependence of living organisms within their environments.

Bio 2.2 Understand the impact of human activities on the environment (one generation affects the next). || //This is a student reporting form to be used in conjunction with the "Making Connections" activity.// //.// || ||   ||
 * **CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABILITY**
 * **Video:**

- //Sustainability Explained in 2 minutes//
 * THE NATURAL STEP**

//This brief video created by the Swedish NGO, The Natural Step, introduces the 4 principles of sustainability. These will be used throughout the course.//

//A discussion of the video contents is recommended.//

// (Creative Commons - noted at end of video. Copy placed in Dropbox.i Quicktime video format) // || media type="youtube" key="FFCNCQleCuk" height="193" width="227" align="center" ||  ||
 * **WHAT DOES A SUSTAINABLE WORLD LOOK LIKE?**

//This lecture is designed to link the 4 Principles of Sustainability to the challenges that were identified in the "Making Connections" activity.// || || EEn 2.7.1 Explain how human activities impact the biosphere.

Bio 2.1 Analyze the interdependence of living organisms within their environments.

Bio 2.2 Understand the impact of human activities on the environment (one generation affects the next). ||
 * * **Teacher Instructions (editable)** || [[file:09ES What Does a Sustainable World Look Like- Teacher.docx]] ||  ||
 * * **Teacher Instructions (.pdf)** || [[file:09ES What Does a Sustainable World Look Like- Teacher.pdf]] ||  ||