Sustainability & Local Farming

Overview

This 20-minute session introduces Year 11 students to sustainability with a focus on local farming practices specific to Lancashire. The lesson aligns with the National Curriculum for England, particularly the geography and citizenship frameworks, enhancing students’ understanding of human-environment interaction, sustainable development, and community engagement.

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Learning Objectives (WALT)

• WALT understand key principles of sustainability and how local farming in Lancashire promotes it
• WALT explore environmental, economic, and social impacts of sustainable local farming
• WALT analyse case studies of Lancashire farms practising sustainable agriculture
• WALT evaluate the role of local farming in supporting community resilience and reducing carbon footprint

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National Curriculum Links

• Geography KS4 (years 10-11):
  • Human Geography – Explore how economic activities and land use strategies affect sustainable development
  • Sustainability and Resource Management – Investigate how human actions affect environments and explore sustainable practices
  • Place Studies – Understand local, regional and national contexts through case studies
• Citizenship KS4:
  • Engage with issues of sustainability and personal responsibility within communities
• Cross-curricular Skills:
  • Critical thinking; listening, communication and discussion; data interpretation

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Success Criteria

• I can describe what sustainability means in farming
• I can explain how local farms in Lancashire use sustainable practices
• I can identify environmental, economic and social benefits of local sustainable farming
• I can discuss how choosing local produce impacts climate change and community well-being

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Resources

• Printed summary sheets with dyslexia-friendly fonts (OpenDyslexic or similar) and bullet points
• Visual aids: photos/maps of Lancashire farms, infographics on carbon footprint
• Whiteboard and coloured markers
• Small case study booklets (easy read)
• Carbon footprint calculator handout (simple version)

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (3 minutes)

Activity:

• Teacher introduces the term sustainability linked to farming.
• Show a simple infographic defining sustainability in agriculture.
• Use relatable questions to engage: "Why might eating food from Lancashire matter to the environment?"

Differentiation:

• Use clear, concise language with visuals to reinforce key terms.
• Allow questions for all students to clarify meanings.

2. Main Task – Exploring Local Farming in Lancashire (12 minutes)

Activity:

• Students split into pairs (2 groups) to study two different Lancashire farm case studies (e.g. organic dairy farm, community-supported agriculture).
• Each group identifies sustainable practices used (crop rotation, reduced pesticide use, water conservation) and the impacts (environmental, economic, social).
• Students use a simple carbon footprint calculator handout to estimate emissions saved by choosing local produce.

Differentiation:

• Provide case studies with varying complexity (basic and more detailed) depending on reading ability.
• Paired work supports cooperative learning and peer assistance.
• Dyslexia-friendly fonts and bullet points aid focus and comprehension.

For Advanced Learners:

• Challenge them to link local practices to wider global sustainability goals (e.g. UN SDGs).
• Encourage proposing one new sustainable strategy for each farm.

3. Group Discussion & Reflection (4 minutes)

Activity:

• Groups present their findings and discuss: How important is supporting local farming for sustainability?
• Teacher facilitates linking student's points to wider environmental citizenship themes.

Differentiation:

• Provide sentence starters for discussion to support less confident speakers.
• Encourage written notes or mind-maps for those who prefer writing over speaking.

4. Plenary – Quick Quiz & Personal Action (1 minute)

Activity:

• Oral rapid-fire quiz: Name one sustainable farm practice & one benefit of local farming.
• Students write down one action they will take to support sustainable local food.

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Extension Activity (Homework / Further Study)

• Research another Lancashire-based sustainable farm or community food project. Prepare a short poster or digital presentation explaining its benefits.
• Reflect on their own food choices this week and track number of local vs imported items.

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Assessment

• Informal assessment through group presentations and quiz responses.
• Teacher notes on participation, understanding of key terms and ability to make connections.
• Use self-assessment checklist based on success criteria for reflection.

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Teacher Notes

• Encourage critical thinking about food origins and environmental impact tailored to age-appropriate understanding.
• Keep explanations simple but link local examples to broader sustainability concepts relevant to GCSE geography and citizenship goals.
• Use positive reinforcement to build confidence and promote environmental stewardship.

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This lesson offers an engaging, concise and curriculum-aligned approach to linking geography and citizenship with sustainability using a highly localised, tangible topic that resonates with students’ lived experience in Lancashire.