Reducing our carbon footprint (UK)
In this lesson, students will investigate the measurement of CO2 as outputs per individual and household, in terms of kilograms of CO2 per annum. They will examine the carbon footprint of average Australians in comparison to the world average and to countries such as Bangladesh, as featured in a clip from 2040. Students will then engage in some mathematical problem solving by seeking to maximise their ‘household’ carbon savings given a set of constraints. This lesson can be used by students to extend on learning covered in 2040 – The Maths of Carbon – 5 & 6.
Overview
In this lesson, students will investigate the measurement of CO2 as outputs per individual and household, in terms of kilograms of CO2 per annum. They will examine the carbon footprint of average Australians in comparison to the world average and to countries such as Bangladesh, as featured in a clip from 2040.
Students will then engage in some mathematical problem solving by seeking to maximise their ‘household’ carbon savings given a set of constraints. This lesson can be used by students to extend on learning covered in 2040 – The Maths of Carbon – 5 & 6.
Level of teacher scaffolding: High – Direct teacher instruction required in the warm-up and in Part B (explicit instruction), and scaffolding and guidance is needed to explain the activity for Part C (group work and problem-solving).
Learning intentions:
- Students will understand about densities and masses of substances – solids, liquids, and gases
- Students will learn how CO2 output by humans and their households can be measured in kilograms produced ‘per annum’
- Students will learn that human CO2 outputs can be reduced and then develop teamwork skills by calculating ‘household’ CO2 footprints using addition, subtraction, and multiplication of large numbers
- Students will develop teamwork skills as they calculate household CO2 footprints using addition, subtraction, and multiplication of large numbers
- Students will realise that they can make a difference to global carbon dioxide levels by acting locally and encouraging others to do the same
Credits and acknowledgements:
Curriculum material has been developed and written by Cool.org. UK curriculum edits and mapping has been by Together Films.
Cool.org, GoodThing Productions and Regen Studios would like to acknowledge the generous contributions of Good Pitch Australia, Shark Island Institute, Documentary Australia Foundation, The Caledonia Foundation, Global Health Film and our philanthropic partners in the development of these teaching resources.
Watching the film
Watch the full film with your class by filling in this form. If you have any questions, please contact the Together Films team at 2040@togetherfilms.org
By purchasing an educational screening licence of 2040, schools can use the film for several types of screenings such as; screenings in classrooms (both in-person and virtually), screenings with pupils and parents, and screenings for fundraising purposes.
Curriculum mapping
What you'll need
- Lesson materials.
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student.
- A device capable of presenting a video to the class.
- 1 plastic or glass 1 litre jug – with measurement markings.
- 1 litre of water in a separate container.
- 1 small packet of rigatoni or penne pasta shells (uncooked).
- 1 litre bag or container of small pebbles or stones or sand.
- Small measuring scales capable of being set to zero (e.g. nutrition scales).
- Whiteboard and markers.
Lesson materials
More from this unit
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