Resource Info: Calculate Your Carbon Footprint And Reduce Your Carbon Emissions With Energy-Efficient Actions

Understanding Carbon

Calculate and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

The students will be able to:

describe what a carbon footprint is
use a carbon calculator to measure their own (or their household's) carbon footprint
identify energy-efficient actions they could take to reduce their own (or their household's) carbon footprint
evaluate the effect of taking energy-efficient actions and make a decision about adopting energy-efficient actions that reduce their carbon footprint.

Teaching Rationales

The students research what a carbon footprint is, gather data and calculate their own carbon footprint. The students determine then actions they could take to reduce their carbon footprint and decide if they want to take any action to reduce their carbon footprint.

Learning Areas, Strands, Achievement Objectives

5 -6	Science	Nature of Science Participating and contributing Students will develop an understanding of socio-scientific issues by gathering relevant scientific knowledge in order to draw evidence-based conclusions and to take action where appropriate. Communicating in science Students will apply their understanding of science to evaluate both popular and scientific texts (including visual and numerical literacy). Investigating in science Students will develop and carry out complex investigations, including using models. Students will show an increasing awareness of working scientifically including recognition of multiple variables. Physical World Physical inquiry and physics concepts Students will identify and describe the patterns associated with physical phenomena found in simple everyday situations involving movement, forces, electricity and magnetism, sound, waves, and heat.
5	Social Science	Social Science Students will gain knowledge, skills, and experience to understand how people's management of energy resources impacts on environmental and social sustainability.

Activity-specific Achievement Objectives

5 -6	Science	Nature of Science Participating and contributing Students will develop an understanding of what a carbon footprint is and the need for individuals and society to reduce their carbon footprint by taking energy-efficient actions. Communicating in science Students will apply their understanding of carbon footprints and energy-efficiency when they read and evaluate popular and scientific texts encouraging individuals to be more energy-efficient. Investigating in science Students will carry out research to determine what a carbon footprint is and the factors and variables need to be considered when calculating a carbon footprint. Students will gather data to calculate their own carbon footprint and use this information to determine ways they can be more energy-efficient and reduce their carbon footprint Physical World Physical inquiry and physics concepts Students will identify and describe the concept of a carbon footprint and describe ways to conserve energy and reduce their carbon footprint.
5	Social Science	Social Science Students will gain knowledge, skills, and experience to understand how people's management of energy resources impacts on environmental and social sustainability.