For the Common Good
Lesson Plans
Grades6, 7, 8Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Civics
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Provided by Population Education
What it is
- This lesson from Population Education includes two activities that illustrate the importance of cooperation and collaboration for managing resources.
- Students will play a game to demonstrate the "Tragedy of the Commons," connecting the game to the use of renewable resources, and play a game to demonstrate how all people benefit from collaboration.
- The resource also includes possible game layouts, an assessment, an infographic, and a video demonstrating the activities.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The video demonstration is a helpful resource for teachers to understand how to execute the activities.
- These models are hands-on and engaging for students.
Prerequisites
- Students should understand the concept of renewable resources and that even renewables have limits.
- Teachers will need poker chips or something similar.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Teachers can connect this problem to biodiversity loss, deforestation, and climate change. Teachers can explain that working only in self-interest has caused a climate emergency that will require cooperation to solve.
- This activity can open a discussion about models. How is this activity representative of the real world? What are its limitations? Students can discuss factors that the model may not consider or account for.
- Teachers can combine this activity with the Ocean Species at Risk Unit. Teachers can start with this game to ensure students are thinking about solutions through the lens of collaboration.
From the scientist review
This lesson plan enables students to explore the importance of sustainable resource management in the face of a changing population. Students would learn how to manage the distribution of resources not only for long-term effects but also for the common good. We reviewed the lesson, and it passed our science credibility, so it is recommended for teaching.
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