Reading into Action: Textbooks and Lessons to Engage Students with Global Sustainability

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Copyright © 2010, Facing the Future

Welcome!Reading into Action: Textbooks and Lessons to Engage

Students with Global Sustainability

Dave Wilton

• Assistant Outreach Director

• [email protected]

• 206-264-1503


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About Facing the Future

Seattle-based nonprofit founded in 1995

Interdisciplinary global issues and sustainability curriculum for K-12

Over 1.5 million students reached annually

All 50 U.S. states and over 120 countries

Professional development and consulting

www.facingthefuture.org


http://www.facingthefuture.org/

Global Sustainability

Curriculum Resources

Teacher’s

lesson plan

book


Student Textbooks



Sustainable Development is…

“meeting the needs of

the present without

comprising the ability

of future generations

to meet their needs”

“Our Common Future,” United

Nations Brundtland Report, 1987

Defining Sustainability

Flourishing

Environment

Strong

Economy

Social

Well-being

Sustainable

Communities



Engaging Students Through Global Issues

Lesson Plan Book for Grades 5-12

Each of the 40 activity-based lessons includes:

Subject areas and key concepts

National standards alignment

Timing and step-by-step instructions

Materials needed and handouts

Assessment questions

Options for extended learning

Technology, literacy, math and art connections

Action project & service learning connections

Recommended resources (films, books, websites)


Engaging Students Through Global Issues

Issue Areas CoveredINTRO TO GLOBAL ISSUES &

SUSTAINABILITY

RENEWABLE & NON-RENEWABLE

RESOURCES

INTERCONNECTIONS MEDIA LITERACY

SUSTAINABILITY GLOBAL HEALTH

SYSTEMS THINKING GOVERNANCE

CARRYING CAPACITY &

POPULATIONS GROWTH

MICROCREDIT & POVERTY

ALLEVIATION

MIGRATION & REFUGEES POVERTY & EQUITY

ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT WOMEN & DEVELOPMENT

GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY INTERNATIONAL DEBT RELIEF

WATER RESOURCES TAXES & BUDGETING

CLIMATE CHANGE CONFLICT & MEDIATION

BIODIVERSITY & ECOSYSTEMS WORLDVIEW & CULTURE

QUALITY OF LIFE TAKING ACTIONCopyright © 2010, Facing the Future

FTF Activity-Based Lesson:

“Is It Sustainable?”

Apple A Apple B

Price to consumer $1.00 $0.50

Farmer’s profit $0.50 $0.25

Miles traveled 10,000 200

Pesticides used None Some

Soil health Good quality Poor quality

Taste Slightly sweet Slightly tart

Photo credit: flickr/procsilasCopyright © 2010, Facing the Future

Society

1. Are individuals and communities involved in making fair and democratic decisions about the activity?

2. Is it an equitable activity (i.e., does it offer more options or opportunities to some groups over others)?

3. Does the activity contribute to people’s quality of life?

4. Does it positively affect different cultures?

Environment

1. Can the activity be done without

damaging plants or animals?

2. Does it help or harm air, water,

and soil quality?

3. Does it use resources at a rate

that allows the resource to be

renewed or regenerated?

4. Is the waste created by the

activity recyclable?

5. Does the activity generate a

limited amount of waste?

6. Does this activity contribute to

the conservation of natural

resources?

Economy

1. Does the activity have a positive

economic impact?

2. Does it create meaningful

and satisfying work for

individuals?

3. Does it contribute to a

community’s economic

development?

4. Do all people receive

equal economic

benefits from the activity,

rather than some people

benefiting at the expense

of others?

Sustainability

1. Can the activity be done without causing damage in the 3 areas (economy, environment, and society)?

2. Can this activity be done so that people in the future will have the same opportunities to do this activity as people today?

FTF Activity-Based Lesson:

“Is It Sustainable?”


Searchable Database of

State Education Standards



It’s All Connected

Student Textbook for Grades 9-12

Essential Questions

Important Terms in Bold Print

Stories from the World

Youth in Action

Specific Global Issues

Personal and Structural Solutions

Feature Issues

Curriculum Connections

FTF Lesson Connections & Resources


Unit 1 – Getting Started With Global Issues

Unit 2 – Population & Carrying Capacity: History, Trends, & Possibilities

Unit 3 – Meeting Essential Human Needs: Food, Water, & Energy

Unit 4 – Environment: Keeping Our House in Order

Unit 5 – Quality of Life: Culture, Health, Education, & Human Rights

Unit 6 – Building Sustainability: Governance, Development, & Peace

Unit 7 – Possible Futures & Sustainable Solutions

It’s All Connected

7 Units of Study



Textbook Highlights:

Stories from the World



Youth in Action



Featured Global Issues



Personal & Structural Solutions







Activities & Information

Global Issues/Sustainable Solutions:

Started as 11-12th grade elective

Moved to 9th grade required class

UN Millennium Development Goals

as centerpiece of course

Start big: What is poverty all about?

Narrow down: How is poverty

reflected in our community?


Classroom Example

High School Global Issues


Global Issues & Sustainable Solutions

Student Textbook for Grades 6-8

1. Sustainability

2. What’s Up with Population?

3. Population throughout History

4. How Many People Can Earth Support?

5. Global Trends – Food, Water, & Income

6. Environmental Sustainability

7. What is the Good Life?

8. The USA in the Sustainability Puzzle

9. Sustainable Solutions – It’s Our Future!




Comparing Ecological Footprints

Youth from Around the Globe

Jyoti

(avg. Indian footprint: 1.9 acres)


Bati

(avg. Kenyan footprint: 2.7 acres)

Warren

(avg. U.S. footprint: 24.0 acres)

Classroom Example

Middle School Science

Uses textbook over 4-5

months

Units on:

Population

Sustainability

Ecological footprint

Broaden existing curriculum

with a global perspective


Teacher’s Companion to Text:Reading Review & Assessments

Assess students’ reading and comprehension

Chapter-by-chapter comprehensive questions

Short essay and writing prompts

Teacher’s answer key

Available for middle and high school textbooks

FREE at www.facingthefuture.org

Click on “Download Free Curriculum Resources”



www.facingthefuture.org

Website Resources

Global

Issues

Tours

Classroom

Examples

Service

Learning

Database


http://www.facingthefuture.org/Curriculum/DownloadFreeCurriculum/tabid/114/Default.aspx

Staying Connected

Visit www.facingthefuture.org

Sign up for FTF e-newsletter

Be a Peer Educator

Provide feedback via survey

Contact FTF:

[email protected]



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internationalCopyright © 2010, Facing the Future

“We must teach our students that

they can be architects of the future,

rather than its victims.”

~ Buckminster Fuller, Architect and Philosopher
