Human Systems and Resource Use

In the first year teaching the new guide I taught sub-topic 1.4 first combining it with sub-topic 8.1. This year I am going to teach 8.1 first and then follow up with 1.4 to use as a lens for resource use discussed in sub-topics 8.2-8.4. I may well weave sub-topic 1.5 into this unit, following 8.2 and before 8.3 as students need to understand the pollution management model in 8.3 and the treatment of solid domestic waste. These strategies of embedding sub-topics 1.4 Sustainability and 1.5 Humans and Pollution into units on resource use will allow a greater opportunity for spiral learning and connections to be made across the curriculum. Of course there is no "right" way to teach the course and you need to do what works best for you and your school's circumstances. I like teaching 8.1 quite early as it is a topic that engages students and lends itself to the new Internal Assessment format. Teaching 1.4 and 1.5 relatively early in the course is also important, in my opinion, as they are intentially called Foundations of ESS.

During this topic we do our first big student-led investigation into as aspect of population demographics, watch TED talks from Hans Rosling, investigate the use of Environmental Impact Assessments for Olympic Games and analyse the use of environmental indicators (sub-topic 1.4), measure our SDW production, visit a recycling centre and an incinerator, study the tragedy of Nairu and the dynamic nature of a resource and consider the carrying capacity of The Earth.