Activity: This Changes Everything – People, the Planet, and Economic Growth – Years 9 & 10

Quick summary: This Changes Everything includes a book by Naomi Klein and film by Avi Lewis. The texts join the dots between climate change, economic systems and the power of community action. In this lesson students will analyse a quote that describes the conflict between the finite resources of the planet and the current push for growth, and then break down a case study that illustrates the relationships among people, the environment, and economic growth. Finally, students are asked to work with a partner to develop a solution to the conflict presented in the case study.

Learning Objectives:

• Students recognise the relationship between natural resources and the global economy, in particular the relationship between economic growth and natural resources.
• Students understand that the production of energy through the use of fossil fuels has both environmental and human costs.

21st century skills:

     

Advice for teachers: This unit is designed to help year 9 and 10 students to look critically at the idea of how our economic system’s push for continual growth impacts both the environment and quality of life for all people. Excerpts from the This Changes Everything book and documentary film are used as starting points throughout the lessons to spark discussion, and to put a human face on complex issues through case studies and in-depth analysis. Parts of this unit is suitable for the following learning areas: Geography, Economics and Business, Civics and Citizenship, English and Environmental Science. These lessons can be used to integrate the Cross-curricular priority of Sustainability into your learning area. Each lesson is designed to stand on its own; you can easily pick and choose what learning activities best meet your curricular goals.

Australian Curriculum content descriptions:

Year 9 Geography

• The effects of the production and consumption of goods on places and environments throughout the world and including a country from North-East Asia (ACHGK068)

Year 9 Economics and Business

• Australia as a trading nation and its place within the rising economies of Asia and broader global economy (ACHEK038)
• Why and how participants in the global economy are dependent on each other (ACHEK039)

Year 9 English

• Create imaginative, informative and persuasive texts that present a point of view and advance or illustrate arguments, including texts that integrate visual, print and/or audio features (ACELY1746)

Year 10 Geography

• Human-induced environmental changes that challenge sustainability (ACHGK070)

Year 10 Economics and Business

• The ways businesses respond to changing economic conditions and improve productivity through organisational management and workforce management (ACHEK054)

Year 10 English

• Create sustained texts, including texts that combine specific digital or media content, for imaginative, informative, or persuasive purposes that reflect upon challenging and complex issues (ACELY1756)

Syllabus outcomes: GE4-2, GE4-3, GE4-4, GE4-5, GE5-2, GE5-3, C5.2, C5.3, C5.4, EN5-1A.

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Understanding, Intercultural Understanding.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.1, OI.6, OI.8.

Relevant parts of Year 9 Geography achievement standards: Students predict changes in the characteristics of places over time and identify the possible implications of change for the future.

Relevant parts of Year 9 Economics and Business achievement standards: Students analyse the interdependence of participants in the global economy.

Relevant parts of Year 9 English achievement standards: Students create texts that respond to issues, interpreting and integrating ideas from other texts.

Relevant parts of Year 10 Geography achievement standards: Students predict changes in the characteristics of places and environments over time, across space and at different scales and explain the predicted consequences of change.

Relevant parts of Year 10 Economics and Business achievement standards: Students explain how businesses respond to changing economic conditions and improve productivity.

Relevant parts of Year 10 English achievement standards: Students create a wide range of texts to articulate complex ideas.

Topic: Climate Change, Sustainability, This Changes Everything.

Unit of work: This Changes Everything.

Time required: 60 mins.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee activity and guide discussions.

Resources required: Student Worksheet – one copy per student OR computers/tablets to access the online worksheet. Film clip: The Planet and Economic Growth. Writing Assessment Rubric and printed copies of P.O.O.C.H. Visible Thinking Routine (one for each pair of students). World map large enough to share with class. This Changes Everything book excerpt: Growing the Caring Economy, Shrinking the Careless One (Take it Further/Extension).

Digital technology opportunities: Digital sharing capabilities.

Keywords: Environmentalism, social inequality, economic development, capitalism, fossil fuels, renewable energy, This Changes Everything.

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