By the end of this lesson, students will understand the concept of sustainability, recognise the impact of human actions on the environment, be familiar with fossil fuels, and apply the principles of the 6R’s in designing a sustainable product. Introduction (10 minutes) Start with a discussion on how human activities harm the planet (e.g., pollution, deforestation, overconsumption). Show images and video depicting environmental damage caused by human actions. Defining Sustainability (15 minutes) Define sustainability as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Discuss the importance of sustainable practices in preserving natural resources and maintaining ecological balance. Understanding Fossil Fuels (10 minutes) Explain what fossil fuels are (coal, oil, natural gas) and how they are formed over millions of years. Discuss the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels, such as air pollution and climate change. The 6R’s of Sustainability (15 minutes) Introduce the 6R’s: Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Repair. Discuss examples of each R and how they contribute to sustainable living (e.g., using reusable bags, repairing instead of replacing items). Activity: Designing a Sustainable Product (30 minutes) Task each group or student with designing a product (e.g., water bottle, backpack) with sustainability in mind. Encourage them to consider materials, energy use, recyclability, and end-of-life disposal. Have groups present their designs and explain how they incorporated sustainable principles. Conclusion and Reflection (10 minutes) Wrap up the lesson by revisiting key points on sustainability, human impact, fossil fuels, and the 6R’s. Ask students to reflect on how they can apply sustainable practices in their daily lives.

A 4 hour learning activity/project that encourages independent learning to meet set outcomes. This activity was developed as a short project based learning activity to compliment the work that the pupils do in school. There are 3 milestones for the pupils to complete using the resources provided to answer a driving question. Driving Question How can we convince people to use eco-friendly products and reduce the impact they have on the planet? Context As a consumer you buy and throw away lots of products such as phones, pens, packaging. These products not only use lots of our resources but end up in landfills and cause pollution. We should all look to reduce our impact on the environment but as designers we should also consider how products impact the environment and look for ways to reduce that impact. Complete the milestones above to investigate the impact and how it can be reduced. In the resource you will find an overview sheet and 4 suitable resource sheets to help pupils complete the desired outcomes.

Lesson on globalisation I made for WJEC Design and Technology but could be used for business studies or Geography. Includes Starter Introduction Discussion Video link 60 word summary Thought provoking images Mini Review Exit Card