Information sheet 3 Overview
Everything we have is from the Earth, can we ensure that we return everything we borrow? How do we humans make things? Can we understand the process we use to make things, and see if we can either reuse these resources or ensure they are disposed of carefully so that they return to the Earth? Can we make sure that what we take from Earth is used wisely and to its fullest potential? In this session, students learn about how everything we make has a lifecycle, from its beginning as resources and its end as waste. They learn about the five phases of any product’s lifecycle and the activities that happen in each phase. They don’t learn the sustainability strategies just yet, they discover problems in each phase of the product lifecycle and propose solutions.
Summary of main ideas and topics
The big question
How are things made? How can we ensure what we take from Earth is utilized fully and returned?
Other guiding question The birth to death of a product - Lifecycle of a product Lifecycle analysis and lifecycle thinking Phases of the lifecycle Linear vs circular economy
Session specific learning objective Describe the lifecycle of an object and the different phases of a lifecycle using examples. Differentiate between a circular and linear lifecycle with an example and identify the advantages and disadvantages of both Create a product lifecycle for an object by collecting information from it’s manufacturers, people who use it and those who handle its disposal. Identify issues in each phase of the lifecycle and suggest alternative solutions
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