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      Sustainability: A new way of living

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain how sustainable living can reduce the environmental impact of our everyday lives.

      Key learning points

      1. Sustainability means meeting today's needs without harming future generations.
      2. Reducing waste and reusing materials helps conserve resources.
      3. Choosing local and seasonal food reduces environmental footprints.
      4. Sustainable transport reduces carbon emissions and pollution.
      5. Individuals, communities and governments all play a role in sustainability.

      Keywords

      • Sustainability - meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own need

      • Food miles - a measure of the distance between where a food is grown or made to where it is eaten

      • Public transport - the shared use of vehicles such as trains, buses, trams and planes on routes where people pay fares

      • Seasonal food - food that is grown and harvested at a specific time of year when it is naturally ripe and ready for consumption

      Common misconception

      Building a more sustainable future is just the responsibility of governments.

      Building a more sustainable future takes action from all levels of society, inidviudals, community and government.

      Teacher tip

      have a look at the riverford website as a class: https://www.riverford.co.uk/

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match each word with the correct short definition:

      Correct Answer:Anthropocene,Human-dominated geological era

      Human-dominated geological era

      Correct Answer:Climate change,Long-term shifts in temperatures or weather

      Long-term shifts in temperatures or weather

      Correct Answer:Biodiversity,Variety of living species in an area

      Variety of living species in an area

      Correct Answer:Carbon footprint,CO₂ released by a person or group

      CO₂ released by a person or group

      Q2.
      Which action most increases a person’s carbon footprint?

      Correct answer: Flying regularly
      Growing your own food
      Riding a bicycle
      Recycling paper

      Q3.
      Burning fossil fuels increases in the atmosphere.

      Correct Answer: carbon, carbon dioxide

      Q4.
      What is meant by biodiversity?

      The spread of cities
      The number of habitats
      Correct answer: The range of species in an area
      Climate over time

      Q5.
      Which of these is a renewable energy source?

      Coal
      Oil
      Correct answer: Wind
      Natural gas

      Q6.
      Why is deforestation harmful to the planet?

      It cools the climate
      It increases oxygen
      It causes earthquakes
      Correct answer: It removes carbon-absorbing trees

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the keywords to the correct definition:

      Correct Answer:Sustainability,Meeting today’s needs without harm to future needs

      Meeting today’s needs without harm to future needs

      Correct Answer:Food miles,Distance food travels to reach you

      Distance food travels to reach you

      Correct Answer:Public transport,Shared transport, like buses and trains

      Shared transport, like buses and trains

      Correct Answer:Seasonal food,Food grown naturally at a certain time

      Food grown naturally at a certain time

      Q2.
      Which of the following is an example of seasonal food in the UK?

      Bananas in winter
      Correct answer: Strawberries in summer
      Grapes in December
      Mangoes in spring

      Q3.
      Who is responsible for building a sustainable future?

      Only governments
      Only schools
      Correct answer: Everyone – individuals, communities, and governments
      Just businesses

      Q4.
      Which of these helps reduce your environmental impact?

      Driving everywhere
      Buying lots of plastic packaging
      Heating an empty house
      Correct answer: Reusing containers and shopping locally

      To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: Sustainability: A new way of living, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...