Topic: What is sustainable development?

Target group

4th‑grade students of elementary school

Core curriculum

General aim of education

The student acquires knowledge and skills about the topics discussed in the classes

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• use the concept of „sustainable development”;

• indicate examples of environmental destruction in your environment;

• indicate and propose activities conducive to the natural environment;

• indicate examples of reclamation of natural areas.

Methods/techniques

• expository

  • talk.

• activating

  • discussion.

• exposing

  • exposition.

• programmed

  • with computer;

  • with e‑textbook.

• practical

  • exercices concerned.

Forms of work

• individual activity;

• activity in pairs;

• activity in groups;

• collective activity.

Teaching aids

• e‑textbook;

• notebook and crayons/felt‑tip pens;

• interactive whiteboard, tablets/computers;

• photos of land for reclamation.

Lesson plan overview

Before classes

• The teacher asks the chosen student or students to get acquainted with the abstract material and to prepare the illustrative material for the lesson.

Introduction

• The teacher explains the aim of the lesson and together with students determines the success criteria to be achieved.

Realization

• The teacher uses the text of the abstract for individual work or in pairs, according to the following steps: 1) a sketchy review of the text, 2) asking questions, 3) accurate reading, 4) a summary of individual parts of the text, 5) repeating the content or reading the entire text.

• Participants familiarize themselves with the content presented in the interactive illustration. Then the teacher discusses the issues with the students.

• Students carry out the interactive exercises checking the level of knowledge learned during the lesson. The teacher initiates a discussion during which the correct solutions for all the exercises performed by the students are discussed.

• The teacher divides the class into groups. Each group receives illustrative material prepared for the lesson. Students suggest actions that should be taken to restore utility and natural value. The group's representative presents solutions ideas.

Summary

• At the end of the lesson the teacher asks: If there was going to be a test on the material we have covered today, what questions do you think would you have to answer? If the students do not manage to name all the most important questions, the teacher may complement their suggestions.

Homework

• Listen to the abstract recording at home. Pay attention to pronunciation, accent and intonation. Learn to pronounce the words learned during the lesson.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

What is sustainable development?

We need industry. It is thanks to its various branches that we obtain raw materials and products necessary in everyday life. However, we should not forget that natural areas unchanged by humans are equally needed. For example, birds living in these areas eat a huge amount of insects, like flies or mosquitoes. We can reconcile these two needs if we apply the principles of sustainable development.
What is sustainable development? Imagine that a forester manages a forest in which a thousand trees grow. Every year, it allows you to cut out the 20 oldest trees, and in their place tells to plant 20 new ones. Thanks to this, there are no fallen trees in the forest, and their age is diverse – from the youngest to fully mature.

The behavior of the environment in an unchanged state is greatly affected by our everyday behavior. So let's remember about:

• segregating garbage,

• using recyclable products and packaging,

• cleaning the place after camping,

• throwing garbage in bins instead of on the ground,

• taking care of greenery,

• saving electricity, gas and water.

Unfortunately, in the past people have not thought about the consequences of their actions, so many damages have already been made. Fortunately, there are ways to restore nature to devastated natural areas! Such activities are called reclamation.

An example of an activity that does not take into account the principles of sustainable development is the strengthening of river banks and lakes along their entire length. Thanks to this, you can build marinas for boats and houses just above the water. However, in this way, the birds lose places in which they could build nests. Losses are also borne by people: rivers with fortified banks are less protected against floods, because there is no natural vegetation near the banks.

• Sustainable development is such management of environmental resources that does not cause their devastation.

• Modern industry and everyday life should be based on the idea of sustainable development.

• The regeneration of brownfield sites is beneficial for the environment as well as for people.