The impact of consumption
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe how resource use and consumption patterns affect the planet.
Key learning points
- High levels of consumption increase demand for natural resources.
- Global trade increases the environmental footprint of consumption.
- Richer countries consume more per person than poorer countries.
- Waste from overconsumption contributes to pollution and emissions.
- Fast fashion and electronics create growing environmental problems.
Keywords
Overconsumption - when people use more resources than Earth can replace
Fast fashion - the mass production and sale of cheaply made clothing that is not worn often and is quickly replaced
Global trade - the exchange of goods, money and services between countries
E-waste - electronic waste
Natural resources - resources that come from Earth without human influence and can be used for human needs
Common misconception
Incinerarting waste is good for the environment.
Incinerating waste releases toxic gases and carbon emissions.
Teacher tip
Ask students to think about how could they reduce their consumption (for example buy less clothes or buy clothes from a second hand source).
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does the term “Anthropocene” suggest?
Q2.Which of these activities has the greatest impact on the atmosphere?
Q3.Which physical system includes rivers, glaciers, and groundwater?
Q4.Which of these shows human impact on the geosphere?
Q5.Which of these best shows human impact on the biosphere?
Q6.What human activity is a major cause of biodiversity loss?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions.
Using more than Earth can replace
Cheap clothes quickly bought and thrown away
Exchange of goods and services worldwide
Old or thrown away electronics
Things from Earth used by humans
Q2.Which of these is an example of fast fashion?
Q3.What is a major problem caused by overconsumption?
Q4.How does global trade connect countries?
Q5.Which of the following best explains why incinerating waste is not always good for the environment?
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: The impact of consumption, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: The impact of consumption, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Anthropocene: What is the impact of humans on the world? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.