Think Earth 2014/15
9-12 grades
Easter Island
Lesson Plan
1. Introduction (3 min) (Include agenda for the hour & my
expectations
Learning Objectives
- The importance
of trees
- Human impact
- Pride vs.
Survival
- Life’s necessities
Utah Core Objectives:
- FOTW 9-12,
Standard 5;
Objectives 1 & 2
- PWL, Standard
5; Objectives 1
&2
- PWL 9-12,
Standard 3;
Objectives 1 & 2
Time:
60 minutes
Materials Needed:
- Projector &
computer
- Rubric handouts
& pencils
2. Background knowledge of topic – ask students: (3 min)
A. How many of you have heard of Easter Island?
B. Where is it located? What country does it belong to?
C. What unique feature do you associate with Easter Island?
3. Powerpoint to teach facts about Easter Island ending with a video
(12 min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v40kCIpgEWw
4. Easter Island’s Collapse Review (write areas on board in
alphabetical order: religion, economy, government, environment,
social, agriculture, climate…. ) and discuss with class how the
Island collapsed in each of these areas (get a scribe or two to write
the ideas on board in each category.) (10 - 15 min)
5. Divide the class into groups of 3 or 4 students and give each group
a rubric. There are four different rubrics (some groups may get the
same one): 1. World, 2. U.S.A. 3. Indonesia, 4. Park City. The
question is: Based on what you know about our world and society
today, how can we prevent a Collapse like Easter Island (in your
designated area) based on today’s population and the
estimated for 2070? (10-15 min)
6. Share the results with the class. (Are there any common themes?)
(15 min)
7. Population video (2.5 min)
http://www.npr.org/2011/10/31/141816460/visualizing-how-a-population-grows-to-7-billion
8. Review/conclude (5 min) with a slide of trees on the projector. (Have volunteer students come
up front to help me with the conclusion, thus the assessment)
9.
Play John Lennon’s “Imagine” (while closing up)
KEY CONCEPTS:
1. While many components affect our survival, population and
trees are critical
This lesson plan is
made possible by a
grant from Wells Fargo
Recycle Utah, 1951 Woodbine Way / PO Box
682998, Park City, UT 84068.
PH: 435.649.9698. Recycling drop open 24/7.
Visit us at www.recycleutah.org
SUPPORTING MATERIALS:
U.S.A.
Population (2014_____, expected to increase to ______ by 2070)
Water
Food/Agriculture
Energy
Environment
Community
Economy
Government/Leaders
Religion
Climate
Indonesia
Population (___ in 2013, expected to reach _______ by 2070)
The World
Population (_____ in 2013, expected to reach _______ by
2070)
Park City,
UT
Population (________ in 2013, expected to reach ______ by 2070)