My purpose in creating this game is to highlight the wide-ranging aspects of sustainability. It is in no way comprehensive. I've shared it with teachers in my workshops, and they really liked it.
🔁This content is yours to use. Download it, remix it, adapt it, share it—make it work for your community.
After reading the lesson plan, please refer to the bottom of the lesson plan for self-reflection questions to assist with your next steps!
Resources
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Sustainability Jeopardy
External Resource
KNOW
- Many well-intentioned and knowledgeable people are living fundamentally unsustainable lives.
- People often focus on a few aspects of sustainability while missing the biggest ones:
- food
- electricity
- transportation
- travel
DO
- Use the game to introduce people (young and old) to major sustainability data points.
- Explore multiple categories of sustainability.
- Spark curiosity and self-introspection.
- Continue adding more categories over time.
BE
- Curious about learning more about sustainability.
- Self-reflective about your daily choices.
- Open to feedback and improvement in remixing this project for your own purposes.
SELF-REFLECTION: INVITATION FOR EDUCATORS:
1) Getting Started with the Game
When in your lesson or unit would this game be most effective (introduction, review, or reflection)?
2) Selecting and Adapting Content
Which sustainability categories (e.g., food, transportation, electricity, travel) feel most relevant to your students right now?
Are there any categories you would add, remove, or modify to better fit your local context or subject area?
3) Facilitating Meaningful Engagement
What is one follow-up question you can ask after each answer to deepen thinking? Some may include, “Why does this matter?” or “How does this show up in daily life?”
4) Moving from Knowledge to Self-Reflection
How will you prompt students to connect the information from the game to their own daily choices?
What is one quick reflection activity you could include after the game, whether that is a written response or discussion?
5) Encouraging Curiosity and Ongoing Learning
Will you invite students to contribute new questions or categories?
What is one way to revisit or build on this activity later in the course?
What is one simple way students can continue exploring a sustainability question after the game?
6) Curiosity as a Starting Point
How will I encourage students to ask questions during and after the game, rather than just focus on getting the “right” answers?
7) Sustainability as an Evolving Concept
How do I communicate that sustainability is something that changes with new information and perspectives?
How might I respond when a student’s idea of sustainability is different from or challenges the material presented?