New
New
Year 9

The impact of consumption

I can describe how resource use and consumption patterns affect the planet.

New
New
Year 9

The impact of consumption

I can describe how resource use and consumption patterns affect the planet.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. High levels of consumption increase demand for natural resources.
  2. Global trade increases the environmental footprint of consumption.
  3. Richer countries consume more per person than poorer countries.
  4. Waste from overconsumption contributes to pollution and emissions.
  5. 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.


To help you plan your year 9 geography lesson on: The impact of consumption, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Ask students to think about how could they reduce their consumption (for example buy less clothes or buy clothes from a second hand source).
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does the term “Anthropocene” suggest?

The time when dinosaurs lived
A natural period of climate cooling
Correct answer: A period shaped by human impact
The start of the Ice Age

Q2.
Which of these activities has the greatest impact on the atmosphere?

Correct answer: Burning fossil fuels
Stargazing
Building motorways
Swimming in lakes

Q3.
Which physical system includes rivers, glaciers, and groundwater?

Biosphere
Atmosphere
Geosphere
Correct answer: Hydrosphere

Q4.
Which of these shows human impact on the geosphere?

A bird building a nest
Correct answer: Deforestation causing landslides
Rain falling
Fish swimming upstream

Q5.
Which of these best shows human impact on the biosphere?

Natural forest fires
Seasonal weather
Tides rising and falling
Correct answer: Introduction of invasive species

Q6.
What human activity is a major cause of biodiversity loss?

Correct answer: Habitat destruction
Watching wildlife documentaries
Planting trees
Cloud watching

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

5 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions.

Correct Answer:Overconsumption,Using more than Earth can replace

Using more than Earth can replace

Correct Answer:Fast fashion,Cheap clothes quickly bought and thrown away

Cheap clothes quickly bought and thrown away

Correct Answer:Global trade,Exchange of goods and services worldwide

Exchange of goods and services worldwide

Correct Answer:E-waste,Old or thrown away electronics

Old or thrown away electronics

Correct Answer:Natural resources,Things from Earth used by humans

Things from Earth used by humans

Q2.
Which of these is an example of fast fashion?

A tailored coat that lasts ten years
Buying second-hand clothes
Correct answer: A cheap t-shirt worn twice and thrown away
Designing your own clothes

Q3.
What is a major problem caused by overconsumption?

Slower internet
Fewer shopping choices
More job opportunities
Correct answer: Depletion of natural resources

Q4.
How does global trade connect countries?

Through time zones
Correct answer: By exchanging goods and services
By sharing online memes
By using the same language

Q5.
Which of the following best explains why incinerating waste is not always good for the environment?

Correct answer: It releases harmful gases
It looks untidy
It creates noise
It takes too long