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 (5^th 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