Sustainability
Sustainability is about understanding
the “ongoing capacity of earth to maintain all life” (Australian Curriculum
Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA], 2012, p. 25). All choices made
through actions today will influence life on earth in the future. Sustainability
has an impact on all areas of geography including: weather and climate, landforms,
biogeochemical cycles and the biosphere, population and migration, cultural
geography, the human food supply, earth’s resources and environmental
protection and other areas (Dahlman, Renwick & Bergman, 2011).
Teaching students sustainability
within the geography curriculum will help them to understand the current
situation of the world and feel responsible to sustain its resources for their
generation and the next generation. The draft of the F-12 Australian Curriculum
for Geography outlines the need to develops “knowledge, skills and values
necessary for people to act in ways that contribute to more sustainable
patterns of living” (ACARA, 2012, p. 25).
Knowledge
Teaching knowledge to students
involves making them aware of issues impacting the Australian environment such
as: climate change, the degradation of land and waterways, population growth’s impact
on natural resources and pollution and the decline in biodiversity (Gough &
Sharpley, 2005, p. 4).
Resources for primary teachers:
The
Lorax: Part 1
The
Lorax: Part 2
Wetlands: Keeping our planet alive http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-media-video/main/ramsar/1-25-331_4000_0
Skills
Students are taught to apply skill
practically in their daily life including skills such as using water and
electricity carefully, think about where their rubbish goes and not wasting
paper.
Resources for primary teachers:
Don’t
waste water
Recycling game http://pbskids.org/sid/cleansup.html
Values
Having knowledge and skills will not
change a student’s actions; however, when they value sustainability they will
begin to make choices that reflect those values. God gave mankind the
responsibility to take care of the earth (Gen. 2:15). Sustainability is each
person’s responsibility to both God and the generations to come.
References
Australian Curriculum
Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA]. (2012). Draft
F-12 Australian curriculum:
geography [PDF file].
Retrieved 9 March 2013, from http://www.acara.edu.au/verve/_resources/2._Draft_F-12_Australian
_Curriculum_-_Geography.pdf.
Dahlman, C. T., Renwick,
W. H. & Bergman, E. F. (2011). Introduction
to geography
people, places & environment (5th ed.). Glenview, IL:
Prentice Hall.
Deanmo23. (2011). Sesame street
film – ‘Don’t waste water’. Retrieved 20 April
2013 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgA7hMJsvfA&feature=youtu.be
Gough, A. & Sharpley,
B. (2005). Educating for a sustainable future [PDF file].
Retrieved
9 March 2013, from http://www.environment.gov.au/education/
publications/pubs/sustainable-future.pdf.
Holy Bible: New International Version. (1988). Grand Rapid, MI: Zondervan
Corporation.
m7a7b725. (2010).
Dr.
Seuss' The Lorax - Part 1 and 2. Retrieved 20 April 2013
from http://www.youtube.com/user/m7a7b725?feature=watch
