Sharing Our Planet, an analysis of a unit plan.

I have chosen to use Sharing our Planet as the Trans-Disciplinary theme. The unit I've chosen is geared towards students of ages 7-8. I chose this because this is the age group I'll be working with next year, and because I'm particularly passionate about the environment. 

Central idea

When interacting with natural habitats, humans make choices that have an impact on other living things.

Key concepts: causation, change, responsibility

Related concepts: habitat, interdependence, behavioural adaptations, diversity

Lines of inquiry

􏰀 Balance between rights and responsibilities when interacting with natural habitats

􏰀 Human impact on natural habitats 􏰀 How living things respond to changing

environmental conditions

How well does the central idea reflect the concepts identified?

The central idea reflects the concepts of causation, change and responsibility quite well. 

Causation: How things such as deforestation are impacting animals in the Amazon (global), at a local (Tanzanian) level, how poaching is impacting the elephant population in the Tanzanian national parks. 

Change: Life cycles, the cycle of the world - Can look at Polar bears and how they're dying because of global warming. How change has occurred in the past - Mammoths, Dinosaurs. How are human lives being impacted - e.g. Yanomamo tribe in the Amazon. Why is there need for a highway to be created through the Serengeti? What necessitates the construction of such a highway? 

Responsibility: What are the needs that are being fulfilled by things such as deforestation and construction of highways through the Serengeti. Why is global warming happening, who should be responsible for it.



How well does the central idea reflect an aspect of the trans-disciplinary theme identified?

I believe the central idea is a decent description of the trans-disciplinary theme of Sharing the Planet. This is because we don't only share the planet with other human beings. The impact of human actions is felt by animals, plants, as well as other humans. Furthermore, we also share the planet with things such as water, which humans directly impact. It is necessary for students to understand how decisions that we make at personal levels can have a global impact. 

How well does the unit provide opportunity to explore multiple subject-related concepts and knowledge through multiple perspectives?

There are always two sides to a story. This is obvious in analyzing the impact humans have had on nature. Industrialization, improvement of infrastructure, have all caused an environmental impact. Therefore students can inquire about both, the need for certain changes in the world, and the impact those changes had on the environment. The impacts can be discussed globally and locally, and numbers as well as literature can be included while presenting and analyzing different data. 

Which subjects do you think are most relevant to exploring the central idea?

The unit provides opportunity for students to explore this concept through: 

Literature - articles, books, folktales about the interaction and relationship between humans and the world - Maori folk-stories are good for this. 

Math - looking at water conservation and wastage, discussing the rate of deforestation, making calculations about this. 

Science - exploring life cycles, looking at the world as it was, how humans have impacted nature over the years. 

Social Studies - how different areas of the world are impacted by different kinds of human activities. 

Arts - Soundscapes, artwork and dances to depict different scenarios and feelings that arise from human impact on biodiversity.