Sustainability Curriculum for Key stage Three
The introduction of sustainability within the curriculum is designed to scaffold learning around climate change and environmental awareness (CCEA) , culminating in a GCSE equivalent level two qualification in Climate change and environmental awareness. The aim is to build upon foundation knowledge gained at key stage two with the intention to develop a deeper understanding toward the key concepts relating to sustainability and CCEA.
The structure and delivery of lessons comprise of a mixture of class-based learning and practical experience and observations. This form of blended learning will assist students knowledge acquisition, appealing to the multi-faceted ways in which our students learn. More able students will have the opportunity to further their learning through effective differentiated tasks, extended questions, workshops and practical based applications to promote progress and development.
Within year eight, students will meet their key learning objectives through a research project focused on capturing renewable energy within school grounds. Over the course of one full term, students will identify, research, design, implement and review a class wide project aimed at decreasing carbon output through renewable energy potential.
The final year at key stage three will explore in depth the mitigating factors of climate change, the effects of greenhouse gases, human-led climate change and the impacts locally and on wider communities. Students will learn through a reflexive lens to identify human motivation including individual held ideas and feelings regarding the climate change with reference to the importance of behavioural change.
Below summarises the key learning objectives for key stage three within sustainability.
KS3 Sustainability learning objectives
- Branch 8 Project – To generate electricity using natural renewable resources.
- Branch 8 Explain why using renewable resources are more advantageous than using non-renewable resources.
- Branch 8 Design an innovative method for producing energy from renewable resources.
- Branch 8 Plan and implement from concept to fruition.
- Branch 8 Present the group project to the school.
- Branch 8 Write up the project: Equipment/ Method / Results / conclusion and future considerations.
- Branch 8 Demonstrate a clear understanding of renewable energy.
- Branch 9 Describe three factors affecting climate change.
- Branch 9 Explain in depth how you could mitigate a factor affecting climate change.
- Branch 9 Through different images, explore various impacts of climate change to understand the reasons and consequences more concretely.
- Branch 9 Explore ideas around ‘Deep Time’ and human activities to help us understand the importance of changing some of our habits as humans.
- Branch 9 Explore greenhouse effect in detail to understand the reasons for human-led climate change.
- Branch 9 using fact sheets to understand particular impacts of climate change in their community, present findings on power point presentation in the role of a summit.
- Branch 9 Understand the importance of self-care and reflection in becoming empowered, as well as finding actions that work for us personally.
- Branch 9 Think about how different people are motivated (or demotivated) to act on climate change and how our sense of connection is important in helping us to become empowered.
- Branch 9 Connect ideas to explore how we can move from anxiety and overwhelm to empowerment and action.
- Branch 9 Explain the main reasons why climate change is happening.
- Branch 9 State your feelings around climate change and explain why it is important to change current behaviours.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this information. If you have any questions relating to this content, please contact Barry Lea-Clark (Sustainability-head of faculty) on 01872 264 221, or email at barry.lea-clark@oaktreeschoolcornwall.co.uk.
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