Ecological footprinting
Secondary foci: Peer Assessment, Literacy Skills,
How was it used?
The resource formed part of an introduction to Recycling using the discrete questions within the resource to establish the children’s level of knowledge.
The main activity was for the pupils to make a Mind Map in groups. They had to feedback to the class to show that they understood the issues regarding carbon footprints and how lowering their own carbon footprint can affect the global issues discussed.
The activity is PowerPoint or PDF based. In this lesson the teacher used the PowerPoint to engage the pupils in session one and then used the session 3 PowerPoint for the rest of the activity.
The teacher allowed the pupils to use mini whiteboards in pairs to write down what they though the term ‘global footprint’ meant to them.
The pupils fed back to the class in their pairs – some had heard the term before and offered good insight into what the term means. The teacher then showed the pupils the definition of a child. Pupils read the next slide and discussed each statement.
The teacher used the chart at the end of the PowerPoint to discuss whether the pupils could affect their own global footprint by buying produce locally.
Using the PowerPoint for Session One, the teacher asked the relevant questions about cultural diversity about the people in the images.
Often the questions in the PowerPoint led to other questions from both the teacher and the pupils. The initial image of a pupil doing her homework in the lounge led to a group discussion about how many rooms are in different types of houses.
The class were engaged in the PowerPoint for Session 3 by using a computer in pairs in the Computer Suite. The pupils were encouraged to annotate their ideas onto a mini whiteboard with a partner.
There is opportunity for the teacher to focus on individual slides within the resource in order to tailor the lesson to suit local issues.
Activity – the pupils were asked in groups to make a Mind Map on A3 paper with Global Footprint as a starting point. The pupils were told that a spokesperson would be chosen randomly to feedback to the class.
The pupils used the mindmap they had created as a valuable prompt for their speaking.
Impact and Outcomes
- Pupils were engaged by the questioning of the teacher.
- The step by step approach of the resource aids the teacher to lead the pupils and the teacher can choose to use all or some of the resource according to need.
- Many opportunities are available for the teacher to question the pupils using varying approaches using lower and higher order thinking skills.
Learner Feedback
- The pupils enjoyed the activity.
- The pupils were keen to use the resource.
- The pupils were shocked at the amount of impact that we have as humans living on The Earth.
Other Resources
Computer suite with 18 Windows PCs, note making materials.
Lesson Learnt
The main lesson learned was that the pupils found the resource to be a stimulating way of learning. They all were able to focus on the main part of the activity and were engaged by the resources in general.