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Ecological Handprint

Secondary, Elementary, Middle

Description

The goal of this activity is to inform and encourage students to take individual and community action to address climate change.   It assumes students have an understanding of global warming and the major ways in which humans are impacting our climate. 

The lesson begins with an introduction to the concepts of the carbon footprint and ecological handprint.  Using the handprint tool (provided) and background information on six positive actions that can impact climate change, students create a visual record of the steps they are already taking and those they would consider taking going forward.

With their handprints completed, students share individual results, look for commonalities and assess opportunities for next steps.   A number of suggestions for related inquiries have been included.

General Assessment

Strengths

The activity does an excellent job in connecting the issue of climate change to the student's own experience.

Recommendation of how and where to use it

The practical nature of the lesson and the tool students use in its completion make this a valuable climate change learning experience across a range of courses and grade levels.

This activity would be most effective if carried out in combination with the carbon footprint activity from the same publisher.

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

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  • Alberta
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      • Science
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        • Environmental Chemistry
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      • Science
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        • Science 7: Earth and its climate have changed over geological time
    • Grade 11
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Science 11: The transfer of energy through the atmosphere creates weather and is affected by climate change
        • Science for Citizens 11:Scientific processes and knowledge inform our decisions and impact our daily lives
    • Grade 12
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      • Social Studies
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        • Physical Geography 12: Interactions between human activities and the atmosphere affect local and global weather and climate
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        • Senior 2 Science: Weather Dynamics
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        • World Geography: A Human Perspective - World Resources, Energy, and Environment
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        • Interdisciplinary Topics in Science 40S: Science, Technology, Society and the Environment
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        • Citizenship and Sustainability: Area of Inquiry: Environment
        • Global Issues
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        • Science 9 Ecosystem Dynamics: Learning and Living Sustainably
        • Science 9 Ecosystem Dynamics: Scientific Literacy
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        • Science 2200: Weather Dynamics
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        • Science 5: Weather
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        • Science 10: Weather Dynamics
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        • Earth and Space Systems: Heat in the Environment
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        • Issues in Canadian Geography (Academic): Liveable Communities
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        • Science (Academic):Earth and Space Science: Climate Change
        • Science (Applied)::Earth and Space Science: Earth's Dynamic Climate
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        • Forces of Nature: Physical Processes and Disasters (Univ./College Prep.): The Physical Environment: Sustainability and Stewardship
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        • Living in a Sustainable World (Workplace Prep.) Ecosystems and Human Activity
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        • World Issues: A Geographic Analysis (Univ. Prep.):Sustainability and Stewardship
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        • Interdependence: Atlantic Canada in the Global Community: Environment in the Global Community
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        • Science 431A: Earth and Space Science, Weather Systems
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        • Geography 621A Global Issues: Introduction- What is a global issue?
        • Geography 631A Global Issues: Introduction - What Is a Global Issue
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        • The Contemporary World: Environment
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        • Science 10: Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics
  • Yukon Territory
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 7: Earth and its climate have changed over geological time
    • Grade 11
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Science 11: The transfer of energy through the atmosphere creates weather and is affected by climate change
        • Science for Citizens 11:Scientific processes and knowledge inform our decisions and impact our daily lives
    • Grade 12
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Physical Geography 12: Interactions between human activities and the atmosphere affect local and global weather and climate

Themes Addressed

Air, Atmosphere & Climate (1)

  • Climate Change

Citizenship (2)

  • Ecological Footprint
  • Sustainable Consumption