1. Invitation

Steps

  • WATCH – Cue up the video and watch it with the class
  • DESIGN TIME – Give students time to reflect and design in their planning booklet
  • SHARE – Have students share their ideas with the class or work in their groups
  • GO DEEPER – Add an activity from the extension buffet below (optional)
  • REMEMBER –  You can pause the video if you want to discuss or explain a concept in more detail

 

 

 

Extension Buffet

  • WATCH – View this inspiring Cities of the Future video (5:33)
  • EXPLORE – Learn more about the UN Sustainable Development Goals by watching a SDG video (5:05) or viewing the UN interactive website.
  • OUTSIDE – Brainstorm some first ideas for your FutureMakers community outside using found nature items.
  • 7 GENERATIONS – Watch this Seven Generations video from Algonquin College (2:36). A generation refers to all of the people born and living at about the same time and is considered to be about 30 years. Have students calculate how long seven generations is (7×30=210 years) and discuss if society currently is thinking ahead.
  • GAME – Play a creative game to help the students start generating ideas. The students start by drawing a shape on a piece of paper. They then pass the shape to another student.  That student then uses the shape to create a FutureMakers building and give it a title.
  • WATCH – Learn more about how the sustainable community of BedZED was created (2:40)
  • SUSTAINABLE CITIES – Explore and build a sustainable city on Minecraft Education
  • WATCH – What is sustainable development? Watch this animated video to learn more. (3:40)
  • DISCUSS – The video showcases ideas people in the 1900s thought the year 2000 would look like. Learn more about that artwork. Discuss how these things compare to what happened. What improvements do students imagine the future will include?

 

3 responses to “1. Invitation”

  1. Sustainability is a really big topic! We spent a lot longer than I expected and I looked up an extra video to explain it in kid language.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTamnlXbgqc

    As a follow up, and as I am coinciding this program with my outdoor education, we took a walk around the neighbourhood to look for sustainable/green choices that can be seen. We also had good conversations about what they hoped they will still see 30 years from now in connection to our community walk. After all of this, we want back and did the activity page for “Invitation” in their Future Makers journal.

  2. The kids were really excited about the invitation and had so many brilliant ideas that they drew!
    We also spent more time than I had initially expected but it was worthwhile. The kids are looking forward to working on this again.

  3. Students were engaged in this lesson. They are very interested in the topic of sustainability and new innovations in this area. We watched the videos included in the Buffet to help students see the approach that separate groups (and countries) are taking to help communities move to a more sustainable future. Great videos (very informative) and rich follow up discussions.
    During outdoor learning time, we talk about the interconnectedness of Earth’s spheres. We looked at connections between this and sustainability.