Resource Depletion Crisis

Lesson Details

Year Group: Year 10
Subject: Geography
Lesson Length: 30 minutes
Curriculum Link: AQA Geography GCSE (Key Idea: Resource Management)
Theme: Understanding natural resource management, causes of resource depletion, and sustainable solutions

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Explain the causes and consequences of resource depletion (with a focus on oil and fossil fuels).
• Analyse the impacts of resource scarcity on the environment, economy, and society.
• Evaluate and discuss practical solutions to promote sustainability and manage resources responsibly.

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Resources Needed

• Interactive whiteboard and projector
• Small cards with discussion prompts for group activity
• Printed handout with global resource statistics (or displayed on screen)
• A3 paper and markers for group brainstorming

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity: Setting the Scene (5 minutes)

Objective: Activate prior knowledge and set the context of the lesson.

• On the board/projector, display the following question:
  “How long do you think the world’s oil supply will last at its current rate of consumption?”
• Allow students 2 minutes to write an estimate in their books and briefly share their answers aloud.
• Reveal a thought-provoking fact: At current consumption rates, known global oil reserves could last approximately 47 years (depending on discoveries and technologies).
• Transition into today’s topic: "The global resource depletion crisis: what causes it, what does it mean for us, and what we can do about it!"

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2. Building Understanding: Causes and Consequences (10 minutes)

Objective: Explain the factors causing resource depletion and link these to real-world implications.

Part 1: Causes of Resource Depletion (4 minutes)

• Use a short, engaging presentation or visual display to cover the following causes:

  • Population Growth: More demand for energy, food, and materials.
  • Industrialisation: Increased extraction for manufacturing and production.
  • Overconsumption: The rise of consumerism and unsustainable lifestyles.

  Include UK-relevant examples: e.g., fossil fuel dependency in the UK, imports of oil and gas, and pressure on domestic land for agricultural expansion.

Part 2: Consequences of Resource Depletion (6 minutes)

Class Discussion Prompt Question (2 minutes): “What happens when resources run out?”

• Take student answers and expand with these points:
  • Environment: Deforestation, habitat destruction, and CO2 emissions.
  • Economy: Rising energy costs, price inflation, and global instability (e.g., oil shocks).
  • Society: Inequality between resource-rich and poor countries, imports impacting living costs.
  • UK-Specific Example: North Sea oil decline and its alleged impact on energy security.

Engage students with a quick quiz/survey: Give them a consequence (e.g., rising sea levels) and ask them to vote whether it’s caused by overconsumption, industrialisation, or another factor.

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3. Interactive Group Activity: Exploring Sustainable Solutions (10 minutes)

Objective: Encourage students to evaluate and suggest strategies for managing resources sustainably.

Instructions for the Group Activity:

1. Divide the class into 5 groups (of 5 students each).
   Assign each group a sustainability theme:

   • Renewable Energy (e.g., solar, wind, tidal in the UK).
   • Circular Economy & Recycling.
   • Sustainable Agriculture (e.g., reducing food waste, eco-farming).
   • Community Campaigns (e.g., local conservation projects).
   • Government Policies (e.g., promoting net-zero goals).

2. Discussion & Brainstorming (5 minutes):

   • Provide each group with a topic card and ask them to brainstorm practical solutions to conserve resources and reduce impacts.
   • They should evaluate:
     • Feasibility
     • Who is responsible for implementation (e.g., government, businesses, individuals)?

3. Group Presentation (5 minutes):

   • Each group shares their ideas (1 minute per group).
   • Prompt quick questions from classmates to promote a collaborative understanding.

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4. Plenary: Call to Action (5 minutes)

Objective: Consolidate learning and connect concepts to real-life action.

• Display another thought-provoking question on the board: "If we don’t act now, what will the UK look like in 50 years?"
• Hold an open-floor discussion to get input from students on their thoughts and feelings about the future.
• Summarise the lesson with key takeaways:
  • Causes: Overpopulation, industrialisation, and overconsumption.
  • Consequences: Environmental, economic, and social impacts.
  • Solutions: Everyone has a role to play - individuals, communities, businesses, and policymakers.

Stretch Task/Homework Suggestion: Research one UK-based energy project (e.g., the Hornsea Project One wind farm). Write a short paragraph on its benefits for resource conservation and sustainability.

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Differentiation Strategies

• For lower-ability students: Use sentence starters and scaffolds during the group activity (e.g., "One way to conserve oil is to..."). Provide more examples in simpler language.
• For higher-ability students: Include stretch questions in the group activity, e.g., “What are the limitations of your solutions, and how can these be overcome?”

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Assessment Opportunities

• Formative: Assess students’ answers during class discussions and group activities.
• Summative: Evaluate how students analyse and propose ideas during their group presentations and closing discussions.

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Wrap-Up

This lesson demonstrates critical links to real-world issues, such as climate change, energy security, and socio-economic challenges, while fostering both analytical and creative thinking in students.