SRSP 16-19 Topic 6 U1a Long Version – Environmental Issues
Environmental issues are increasingly important in the contemporary world. Pressure groups have focussed world attention on the state of the environment and climate changes. Allegedly, the effects of climate change are already showing themselves in freak weather and other natural catastrophes. Some governments have begun to respond with a range of environmental measures from practical action to treaties and protocols. For most people the message of ‘recycle’ and ‘reuse’ is now a common theme of everyday life – though this is not so globally and perhaps is less a feature of newly industrialising nations than those already industrialised. Responding to environmental issues tends to fall into three categories:
- Doing nothing and hoping that the predictions are wrong or that in some way as time progresses humanity will develop ways to cope with any environmental problems which may arise.
- Seeking out technological solutions to environmental problems in order to reduce the effects of current activity and address future problems as and when they arise.
- Lifestyle changes ranging from the personal to the national which aim to reduce the damage and avoid creating or worsening some of the damage before it becomes too serious.
This unit consists of 10 lessons and is suitable for students aged from 16 to 19 years
Key Questions
- To what extent are environmental problems attributable to human actions?
- What is the role of humanity in looking after planet earth?
- In what ways should human behaviour change in response to the earth’s environmental problems?
- Is it realistic to think that it will?
- What range of possibilities might different responses to environmental problems lead to in the future?
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Unit Resources
Lesson 1
Lesson Plan: What’s it got to do with me? (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 1: Key Questions (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 2: Possible life situations (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 3: Zindookians v. Earthlings (Word)
Resource Slide 1: The Zindooks (Word)
Resource Slide 2: Zindook Group Research (Word)
Resource Slide 3: Evaluation of Group Research (Word)
Lesson 2
Lesson Plan: Problems, Causes, Effects, Solutions (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 4: Group Research Task (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 5: Other notes and web sites (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 6: Deforestation Dominoes (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 7: After Dominoes Summary sheet (Word)
Resource Slide 4: Is the Environment in Trouble? (Word)
Resource Slide 5: The Dominoes Game (Word)
Lesson 3
Lesson Plan: Planet Earth: A case study (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 8: The earth from space (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 9: Case studies 1 and 2 (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 10: Case studies 3 and 4 (Word)
Resource Slide 6: Care Study Group work (Word)
Resource Slide 7: Response to case study group work (Word)
Teacher Support Notes 3 (Word)
Lesson 4
Lesson Plan: The rights of nature (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 11: Personal Statements (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 12: Merrypickle Cards (Word)
Resource Slide 3: Zindookians v Earthlings (Word)
Resource Slide 8: The Merrypickle Bypass project (Word)
Teacher Support Notes 4 (Word)
Lesson 5
Lesson Plan: The Human Dimension (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 13: Mind Map, developed nations (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 14: Mind Map, developing nations (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 15: Impact and consequences (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 16: Snakes and ladders game (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 16a: Snakes and ladders: Game board (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 17: Design brief (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 18: Environmental friendly technology (Word)
Resource Slide 9: Classifications of Nation States (Word)
Teacher Support Notes 5 (Word)
Lesson 6
Lesson Plan: Christian views of the environment (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 19: Research Dossier (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 20: Christian Groups (Word)
Resource Slide 10: Bible references (Word)
Resource Slide 11: Christian Concepts (Word)
Teacher Support Notes 6 (Word)
Lesson 7
Lesson Plan: Buddhist views of the environment (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 21: Buddhist Precepts (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 22: Buddhism and the environment (Word)
Resource Slide 12: If there were no such thing (Word)
Resource Slide 13: Buddhist poetry (Word)
Teacher Support Notes 7 (Word)
Lesson 8
Lesson Plan: Scientific responses to Environmental issues (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 23: Famous Fixit Flops (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 24: Fabulous Fixits (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 25: Assessment Sheet (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 26: Environmental Issues and Fixits (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 27: Fixits assessment Sheet (Word)
Teacher Support Notes 8 (Word)
Lesson 9
Lesson Plan: Lifestyle change responses (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 28: Actions Assessment Form (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 29: Environment Audit (Word)
Student Resource Sheet 30: Environment Development Plan (Word)
Resource Slide 14: Problems and Solutions (Word)
Teacher Support Notes 9 (Word)
Lesson 10
Lesson Plan: What if? Possible consequences of action and in-action (Word)
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