- Description
- Students develop an understanding of consumerism and consumption rates, their complexity and how they impact sustainable development.
- Prerequisite
- None
Outcomes The student will:
1 identify and discuss the effects of consumerism on sustainable development
1.1 define consumption
1.2 define consumerism
1.3 define sustainable development; e.g., provincial, federal and United Nations definitions
1.4 analyze consumption rates for a sector of the economy; e.g., food, petroleum, automobiles
1.5 discuss how changes in consumption rates affect sustainable development in an economic sector
2 investigate personal consumption rates and patterns
2.1 determine individual and family consumer patterns (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, yearly) for a number of products (e.g., food items, clothing, electronics)
2.2 estimate the life span of personal purchases
2.3 record and evaluate personal consumer patterns
3 investigate and assess impacts throughout the life cycle of a personal consumer product; e.g., denim jeans, newspapers, smartphone, mp3 player, LCD television, computer
3.1 investigate the life cycle of a personal consumer product, considering:
3.1.1 raw material production
3.1.2 manufacture
3.1.3 distribution
3.1.4 use
3.1.5 disposal
3.2 assess the environmental and social impacts of each phase of a product’s life cycle; e.g., raw material production: land use; manufacturing: fair trade; distribution: greenhouse gases; use: depletion of fossil fuels; disposal: habitat destruction
4 explore and evaluate methods of reducing personal consumption rates
4.1 consider the materials and energy used to produce packaging for products
4.2 determine energy requirements for transporting personal purchases
4.3 determine the geographic origins of staple and luxury consumer goods; e.g., bread, milk, gas, smartphone, designer jeans, diamond ring
4.4 assess your personal ecological footprint; e.g., online ecological calculator
4.5 investigate alternative means of personal consumption; e.g., barter, swapping, salvage, dematerializing, recycling, zero waste
5 demonstrate basic competencies
5.1 demonstrate fundamental skills to:
5.1.1 communicate
5.1.2 manage information
5.1.3 use numbers
5.1.4 think and solve problems
5.2 demonstrate personal management skills to:
5.2.1 demonstrate positive attitudes and behaviours
5.2.2 be responsible
5.2.3 be adaptable
5.2.4 learn continuously
5.2.5 work safely
5.3 demonstrate teamwork skills to:
5.3.1 work with others
5.3.2 participate in projects and tasks
6 make personal connections to the cluster content and processes to inform possible pathway choices
6.1 complete/update a personal inventory; e.g., interests, values, beliefs, resources, prior learning and experiences
6.2 create a connection between a personal inventory and occupational choices
Program of Studies 2010. Source document, © Alberta Education.