Do We Really Need All This Stuff? Born Free's Great Debate for KS4

Our consumer habits are at the heart of the planet’s environmental crisis. Whether contributing to climate change through factory emissions and transportation, or impacting biodiversity through pollution and waste materials, our need to own the latest electronic device or follow the latest fashion trend has led us to consume natural resources at a rate that far exceeds the planet’s capacity to renew them.

Through this topic, students will delve deeper into the issue of overconsumption and decide whether we can carry on as we are, or whether we need to drastically change our ways in order to protect our planet and its wildlife, and if so, whose responsibility is it to bring about that change?

Your students will decide.

Born Free’s Great Debate provides teachers with the tools to engage their students in meaningful debates about key wildlife or environmental topics. Students will not only gain knowledge about the this topic, but also skills that will help them to research, frame and deliver an argument. Armed with these skills, young people are more equipped to take action to reduce their impact on the environment, and to encourage others to follow.

Lesson one – Our Consumer Habits
Discuss key terms around consumption and look at what drives us to consume goods and services.

Lesson two – The Impacts Of Overconsumption
Discover the impacts of the fashion and electronics industry on the environment, people and wildlife.

Lesson three/ Homework – Research
Research and frame opposing sides of the debate. Is it the responsibility of decision makers and companies to curb our consumption, or down to us as individuals?

Lesson four – The Great Debate
Participate, listen and learn through a formal debate.

Lesson five – Action Planning
Identify calls to action and create a campaign to bring about local change.