Energy Lesson 8 : Leaving Smaller Footprints

1. Encourage students to calculate the average ecological footprint of students in the class. Find a field near the school that is big enough to trace out the class footprint. Mark the corners with flags. Have students discuss and compare the size of the property their home sits on with the size of the average footprint.

2. Students could also calculate the footprint of the school using directions from the following article: Sawchuk, J., and T. Cameron. (Spring 2000). “Measuring Your School’s Ecological Footprint.” Green Teacher, pp. 14-19.

3. Students can learn about sustainability using the online Sustainability Michigan Technological University Tech Alive Web Module available from http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec_index.htm.

4. Students can play the Union of Concerned Scientists Great Green Web Game to test their knowledge of how consumer choices affect the environment. Available from http://www.ucsusa.org/game/game.html.

5. Students learn more about sustainability by reading the Sustainability Factsheets provided with this unit.

6. Students can develop an environmental stewardship program in their school or community.

a. Develop a survey to assess the needs of the classroom, school, or community.

b. Research and discuss Michigan case studies/ success stories.

c. Develop a program or project that meets the needs of the community and can be integrated into the classroom. Project Learning Tree: Green Works! (see Additional Resources) is a helpful guide to developing service learning projects.