What is Sustainability?
What is Sustainability?
Sustainability is the idea that we should always try to do what is best for our environment and for
future generations of all species on our planet. This may mean different ideas to many people, including
providing food and resources, livable conditions, clean water, proper sanitation, and usable energy.
It is our collective responsibility to help in protecting our planet.
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Sustainability, or sustainable development, is development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Sustainability by The World From Above
Sustainability: told as a Children's Fairy TaleÂ
by The World From Above
Get inspired by this celebration and cautionary story of our planet told as a children's fairy tale. "Once upon a time, there was a King in his castle..."
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Video found on https://youtu.be/fKWQuU0sHPw.
(Runtime: 2m 25s)
Sustainability by Mocomi Kids
What is Sustainability?
by Mocomi Kids
A short informative video on Sustainability, For humans, sustainability is the potential for long-term maintenance of well being, which has ecological, economic, political and cultural dimensions.
Here are a few ways in which your actions can contribute to sustainability.
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Lifestyle - Your lifestyle is your choice and you can change it. For example, when you go to the grocery store, make sure you always carry a cloth bag. This way the shopkeeper does not have to give you many plastic bags.
Fixing - If your watch, or a toy, or a camera is broken or not working, try getting it fixed before you buy yourself a new one.
Recycle - Try and be conscious about the things around you. When you consume something, see if you can re-use it later.
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Learn more about how we can contribute to sustainability.
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Video found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTamnlXbgqc.
(Runtime: 2m 53s)
Sustainable Development by Animaskin
What is Sustainable Development?
by Animaskin
A short animated film produced by the production company «Animaskin» for UNICEF Norway and the UN Association of Norway to support Sustainable Development learning via unicef.no/skole/barekraft. The original film is in Norwegian but this is in English.
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Video found at https://vimeo.com/144354623.
(Runtime: 3m 40s)
Energy Use in Minnesota
A quick discussion on what types of Energy are used in Minnesota.
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Recorded April 20, 2020 during the online via Zoom Unite for Earth Day 2020.
Narration by Ms. Michelle
(Runtime: 1m 27s)
Activities
As part of the Small Steps to Sustainability Patch, please complete Activities 1 & 2.Â
Have fun with your family.
Activity 1 - POPCORN ACTIVITY
Introducing the concept of nonrenewable resources...
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Instructions:
Have a bowl of popcorn on the table.
Hand out slips of paper to all the participants.
Allow the 1st generation to take as much of the popcorn
as they would like.
Next, call up the second and third generations and allow them to do the same.
Once the 4th generation shows up there should be
only a little left.
Lead a group discussion by asking students what has happened?
What if this was a
non-renewable resource, say it takes another year to make another batch of popcorn?
What would the 5th generation do?
Activity 2 - RENEWABLE AND NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES
One way to be more sustainable is to understand which resources we use and if they can be replaced. Learn about the different types of resources by using the table below, then sort the resources.
Take out a scratch piece of paper and something to write with. Then use the words in the word bank below to sort each item into one of the following categories.
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- Man-made Resource
- Renewable Natural Resource
- Non-renewable Resource
TREESÂ Â Â Â Â CARSÂ Â Â Â Â Â WIND ENERGYÂ Â
COALÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â JACKETÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â FOSSIL FUEL
OILÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â WHEATÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â FISHÂ Â
GASÂ Â Â CELLÂ PHONEÂ Â Â Â OFFICE BUILDING