Earth Hour: Do you know what your ecological footprint is? - Year 5 & 6

Activity Introduction

Quick summary: In this activity students learn about the concept of environmental footprints. They will learn how to measure their impact and take steps to reduce their personal footprint. Students make comparisons between the lifestyles of Aboriginal and Torres Islander peoples prior to colonisation and the current mainstream, considering the impact of consumerism on environmental footprints. This lesson meets selected Australian Curriculum outcomes for Years 5 and 6 in the subjects of Science and Geography.

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This activity has been created in partnership with WWF-Australia. Earth Hour is the world’s largest community-driven climate change campaign. At the centre of Earth Hour is switching off lights to show a commitment to taking action. Thousands of teachers use Earth Hour’s education program to enrich their curriculum and provide pathways for young people to create change in their world.

For the most up to date Earth Hour dates, times, and events, check here.

Learning goals:

Students understand their impact on the Earth.
Students take responsibility for their personal actions.
Students compare the impact on our environment between the past resource use by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples prior to colonisation and our current resource use.

General capabilities: Numeracy, Intercultural understanding, Critical and creative thinking.

Cross-curriculum priorities:

Australian Curriculum content description:

Year 5 Geography:

The influence of people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, on the environmental characteristics of Australian places (ACHASSK112)
The environmental and human influences on the location and characteristics of a place and the management of spaces within them (ACHASSK113)

Year 5 Science:

Science involves testing predictions by gathering data and using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena (ACSHE081)
Scientific knowledge is used to inform personal and community decisions (ACSHE083)
Identify, plan and apply the elements of scientific investigations to answer questions and solve problems using equipment and materials safely and identifying potential risks (ACSIS086)

Year 6 Science:

Science involves testing predictions by gathering data and using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena (ACSHE098)
Scientific knowledge is used to inform personal and community decisions (ACSHE100)
Use equipment and materials safely, identifying potential risks (ACSIS105)

Syllabus Outcomes: GE3-2, GE3-3, ST3-4WS, ST3-6PW.

Time needed: 60 – 120 mins

Resources required: Magazines and newspapers, Student Worksheet.

Digital learning opportunities: Get your students to complete a digital footprint: WWF Ecological Footprint calculator, www.myfootprint.org

Keywords: Food, resources, energy, waste, water, footprint, environment, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, waste, litter.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher preparation

Teacher content information: Earth Hour is a WWF-Australia initiative, and is the world’s largest community-driven climate change campaign. At the centre of Earth Hour is switching off lights to show a commitment to taking action. Thousands of teachers use Earth Hour’s education program to enrich their curriculum and provide pathways for young people to create change in their world.

Download the Earth Hour starter kit for your school: Earth Hour for Schools

Earth Hour Australia's Egg-cellent Launch Video (https://youtu.be/IBs2dnDj8Og)

With a world population of 7 billion people and rising, we need to be concerned about the Earth’s ability to provide us all with the things we need to live, and to absorb all the waste we produce. Your environmental footprint is a measure of your personal impact on the environment. It can be defined as the amount of the earth’s surface it takes to provide everything each person uses – food, water, energy, clothes, roads, building

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Student Worksheet

Thought Starter: Does everyone in the world have access to the same things you do?

Part 1: What is our Environmental Footprint?

1. Write a definition of the term environmental footprint:

2. Draw an outline of your footprint below. You then need to cut out pictures from magazines and newspapers or draw what things you think make up your footprint.

Part 2: Measure Your Impact

Instructions

1. You need to write down eight activities and record what resources are used. Activities may cover catching a bus, brushing teeth, getting dressed, eating lunch, and playing sport to name a few.

2. You also need to record what resources were used to undertake the activity. The resources include water, energy or waste produced.

3. You then need to estimate how much of the resource you used and write down the number 1, 2 or 3 in the usage boxes. Use the following guide:

Length of Activity	Usage	Score
Less than 10 minutes	Low	1
11 minutes – 1 hour

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Activity: Earth Hour: Do you know what your ecological footprint is? – Year 5 & 6

Activity Introduction