Scholars independently explore several websites to calculate their ecological footprint. Using their new found knowledge, they answer six short-answer questions and take part in a grand conversation with their peers about how our everyday actions impact the environment.

Concepts

ecology, footprints, human impact on the environment, the environment, global environment, ecological footprints, natural resources, climate change

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Direct pupils to trace and cut out a figure of their foot, write one or several ideas to reduce their ecological footprint, then display finished products around the classroom
• Pose discussion questions on a classroom blog 
• Invite an environmentalist to speak to the classroom about human impact on the environment

Classroom Considerations

• Every child requires a computer or mobile learning device with internet access—group pairs or triads if technology is limited
• The resource is the first of four lessons about the environment

Pros

• Provides clear and detailed lesson directions 
• Offers one math extension
• Promotes speaking and listening skills

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.5.1.a SL.5.1.c SL.6.1.a SL.6.1.c