Ecological Footprint and Sustainability

Ever wonder where your “STUFF” comes from?

Let’s check the labels on your clothes, your backpack, your shoes.

Where do they come from?

Do you know where these countries are located in the world? (see world map)

The Story of Stuff http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Labels ActivityItem Your Name Partner

Which Country is this item from?

Which Country is this item from?

1. Shirt/sweater

2. Backpack, hat

3. Other – cell phone

Ecological Footprints Definition: it refers to the amount of

the Earth’s surface that is needed to produce all the energy and resources that each of us uses.

It also includes all the land needed to absorb all the waste we make.

World Average Footprint = 2.2 hectares

One hectare = 1 football field

Comparing Footprints around the World

Biggest Footprint - United States at 10.3 hectares

Average Canadian Footprint – 7.7 hectares

Canada has the 3rd highest footprint in the world

We Require….. 0.2 hectares of land for water (to drink and provide

seafood) 0.4 hectares of land for homes, roads and factories that

make all of our “stuff” 1.6 hectares of land for farmland to grow food we eat 0.3 hectares of land for grazing land for meat and dairy 1.4 hectares of land for timber wood and paper products 3.8 hectares of land to absorb the greenhouse gases

made from driving around town, through the running of air conditioners and the import of exotic goods and foods

= hectares.7.7

Stewardship vs. Sustainability Stewardship – refers to the

responsibility we ALL have to the environment and resources that has been left to us by our ancestors. We are all stewards of the planet.

Sustainability – refers to the ability to develop in order to meet the needs of the present without negatively affecting the ability of future generations to meet their needs

Stewardship vs. Sustainability If we are not all following our role as stewards in the

global village, then we will not have a sustainable environment for our future children.

We must all do our part to keep our consumption of resources to a minimum and keep the environment around us clean.

Are you doing your part?

“ We do not inherit the earth from our grandparents we borrow it from our children”

Ecological Footprint - Article Read the article as a class and take

the quiz

Calculate your Footprint

Base it on your everyday needs

Living Space:

Home: average house is 1500 square feet (add more or less if your house is small or big)1500 / # of ppl in your house

School: about 420,000 square feet (200 square feet per student x 2100 people in our building)

420000/2100 = 20 m2 people

Other: just put 25 square feet

Sustainability – Story of StuffThe Story of Stuff http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Sustainability – Are you helping?

Take the quiz.

Let’s see what you know……..• True or False – 3 questions• Multiple Choice – 4 questions

Placemat Activity- How can you bring about

Change?– Think of how you can change your ecological

footprint at home, school, in your community. What can WE do to become more green and make our community more sustainable?

Instructions: 1. Create a placemat on chart paper as shown by Mr.

Forsdike. There should be four places. One for each student to write their answers in.

2. On your own, brainstorm your ideas.3. Discuss with your group members. 4. Put the decisions or ideas you AGREE upon in the

middle of the placemat (the circle in the middle of your sheet.)

5. When done, hand in to box.

The Game of JENGA In groups of 4, play a game of Jenga. Observations:

• How do the pieces fit together? How does it function?

• Are their parts that are stronger and parts that are weaker?

• Did your tower of blocks collapse or fall over at any point?

• How does Jenga relate to our unit?• What actions did your teammates take? Did you

work together or did you work independently?

The Game of JENGAFollow Up Questions: Complete on

your own and then hand in.

1. Compare Jenga to the environment, how

is it similar? How is it different? 2. Compare Jenga to the idea of sustainability. What can you learn about sustainability based on this game?