Lesson summary
In this lesson, students will explore the traditional circular flow economic model and evaluate the factors of the economy that are not considered. They will share their own views about the circular flow economic model. Students will then explore an alternative framework, as examined in the film, 2040 – ‘Doughnut Economics’. They will evaluate the similarities and differences between the two models.
Learning intentions:
Students will...
- understand the limitations of the circular flow economic model
- understand the principles of the ‘doughnut’ economic model
- understand the difference between both circular flow and ‘doughnut’ economic models
Success criteria:
Students can...
- identify the principles of the circular flow economic model
- identify the importance of environmental and social wellbeing in an economic model
- ideate features of an ideal economic model
- compare two economic models (circular flow and ‘doughnut’)
Lesson guides and printables
Lesson details
Curriculum mapping
- Unit of work: 2040 – Economics and Business – Years 7 to 10
- Time required: 60 mins
- Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussion
To view our Australian Curriculum alignment, click here.
To view our NZ Curriculum alignment, click here.
Resources required
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student
- Device capable of presenting a video to the class
- Agree/Disagree Posters
- Doughnut Economics Model
- The Doughnut of Social and Planetary Boundaries Worksheet – one per student
- Trickle Down Economics Image
Additional info
2040 is an innovative feature documentary that looks to the future, but is vitally important NOW! Director Damon Gameau embarks on a journey to explore what the future could look like by the year 2040 if we simply embraced the best solutions already available to us to improve our planet and shifted them rapidly into the mainstream.
In Australia: Order the Schools Version of the 2040 DVD. The Schools Version includes an educational license and is for Australian primary and secondary schools that wish to utilise the film as a learning tool or host free on-site screenings for the school community.
In New Zealand: Order the Schools Version of the 2040 DVD. The Schools Version includes an educational license and is for New Zealand primary and secondary schools that wish to utilise the film as a learning tool or host free on-site screenings for the school community.
If you are teaching in either New Zealand or Australia, you can now organise a virtual screening of the film for your class. To enquire about this option, simply email schools@whatsyour2040.com and the 2040 team will help you set this up! If you have already bought a DVD of the film and you have a ClickView account, you can email the team for permission to upload the film to your account to make it more easily accessible for your teachers and students.
Cool.org, GoodThing Productions and Regen Pictures would like to acknowledge the generous contributions of Good Pitch Australia, Shark Island Institute, Documentary Australia Foundation, The Caledonia Foundation and our philanthropic partners in the development of these teaching resources.
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