Lesson Plan | Active Methodology | Production and Consumption

Premises: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class duration, prior student study both with the Book and the beginning of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be carried out during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a large part of the available time.

Objective

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The objectives stage aims to establish a clear foundation for students to know what is expected of them by the end of the lesson. Through these main objectives, students will grasp the phases of production, distribution, and consumption and understand how these processes are interconnected. This clarity will guide practical activities and help assess the achievement of desired learning outcomes.

Objective Utama:

1. Explain the process of production, distribution, and consumption of various products, identifying the stages and players involved.

2. Examine the interactions between production, distribution, and consumption, highlighting the significance of each stage in the functioning of the global economy.

Objective Tambahan:

1. Foster critical thinking skills by examining and analyzing the impact of consumption choices on the environment and society.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

This introduction aims to engage students and connect the knowledge they bring from home with practical applications in class. The problem-based scenarios encourage students to think critically about production and consumption, while the contextualization illustrates the relevance of these processes in their daily lives. This dynamic start sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the topic during classroom activities.

Problem-Based Situation

1. Imagine you're feeling parched and decide to grab a cold drink. In small groups, list all the stages this drink has gone through to reach your hands, from the sugarcane farms to manufacturing and distribution.

2. Think about a toy you absolutely adore. How was it made? What materials were used? Discuss in groups the different stages of production and how these toys make their way to the stores.

Contextualization

To comprehend the importance of production and consumption, think about all the items that form part of your daily life, from the bread you have for breakfast to the paper you use for your sketches. Every one of these products undertakes complex production processes and long journeys before they are in your hands. For instance, the bread you eat could be made from wheat grown in places like Australia, shipped over to India. This journey involves many individuals and stages, and is vital for our economy and society.

Development

Duration: (70 - 75 minutes)

This development stage is meant for students to engage in practical activities that apply their prior knowledge of production and consumption. By working collaboratively, they will hone their communication and critical thinking skills while deepening their understanding of the complexities of production and consumption systems. The proposed activities aim to immerse students in real or simulated scenarios, promoting meaningful and contextualized learning.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - The Path of Chocolate 🍫

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand the stages of chocolate production and consumption while raising awareness of the social and environmental impacts of these processes.

- Description: In this activity, students will delve into the production and consumption journey of chocolate. In groups of up to 5, they will chart all the stages, starting from cocoa farming to chocolate manufacturing, and highlight the various countries involved in production. Each group will then create a short skit or slide presentation to depict chocolate's journey, including insights about social and environmental impacts.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Provide materials like paper, pens, and access to online resources on cocoa farming and chocolate production.

• Instruct students to outline the stages of chocolate production, from cocoa farming to the final product.

• Each group should pick an intriguing or surprising aspect to showcase in their presentation.

• Groups must prepare a dramatization or slide presentation for their classmates, evaluated based on information accuracy and engagement.

Activity 2 - Sustainable Exchange Fair ♻️

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand the importance of sustainability in the production and consumption of goods, while promoting negotiation skills and product valuation.

- Description: Students will partake in an exchange fair within the classroom, where they can swap items they brought from home. Before the fair, groups will discuss the origin and production process of their chosen items, focusing on sustainability and environmental impact. At the fair, they will negotiate with other groups, applying their gained knowledge about the value and importance of products.

- Instructions:

• Ask students to bring an item they are willing to trade, like a book, toy, or small accessory.

• Organize the classroom into exchange stations for each group to display their items.

• Before trading, each group will present their item, discussing its origin, how it was produced, and why sustainability matters.

• Commence the fair, allowing groups to navigate and negotiate with each other.

• Conclude with a class discussion on their swaps and what they learned about product valuing.

Activity 3 - Tracking Your Snack 🌏

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Visualize and understand the food production and consumption chain, focusing on environmental and sustainability issues.

- Description: Students will investigate the origins of the ingredients in a popular snack, like a sandwich, mapping the global journey of each component. They will use maps and online resources to trace the cultivation, production, and transport of each ingredient, discussing the challenges and environmental impacts encountered.

- Instructions:

• Select a common snack, like a sandwich, and list its main ingredients.

• Divide students into groups, assigning each a specific ingredient to investigate.

• Provide maps and access to online research resources.

• Students should map the journey of their ingredient globally, from cultivation or production to grocery store arrival.

• Each group will present their findings, discussing challenges and environmental impacts faced.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

This stage aims to consolidate student learning, allowing them to articulate and reflect on the knowledge gained during practical activities. The group discussion aids in developing communication and argumentation skills while providing an opportunity for students to critically evaluate production and consumption processes and consider the implications of their choices. This stage also offers the teacher a chance to gauge student understanding and address any leftover queries.

Group Discussion

To kick off the group discussion, the teacher can encourage each group to share surprising insights or key takeaways from the activities. The teacher can then facilitate connections between various projects, discuss similarities and differences in the production and consumption chains covered, and debate the social and environmental impacts they have identified.

Key Questions

1. What were the main challenges faced when mapping the production and consumption chains of the studied products?

2. How can our findings promote more conscious choices as consumers?

3. Was there any part of the production and consumption process that you found particularly unjust or concerning? Why?

Conclusion

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The aim of the conclusion is to solidify student understanding, ensuring they can articulate their learnings and appreciate the topic's significance in their lives. This stage also reinforces the integration of theory and practice while emphasizing the applicability of the knowledge acquired in real-life contexts. Closing with a reflection on the topic's importance encourages students to think critically about their consumer choices and behaviors.

Summary

In this final stage, the teacher will summarize the main points discussed during the lesson, recapping the stages of production, distribution, and consumption of various products like chocolate, toys, and food. This summary helps reinforce the knowledge gained and connects the different subject matter explored.

Theory Connection

Throughout the lesson, the connection between theory and practice was established through activities that simulated or mapped real-world processes. This enabled students to apply theoretical concepts in practical scenarios, visualizing the complexity and interrelationships of production and consumption systems.

Closing

To wrap up, the teacher will stress the relevance of studying production and consumption in students' everyday lives, highlighting how comprehending these processes can aid in making more informed and responsible consumer decisions. Additionally, they will briefly discuss how individual consumption choices can have broader social and environmental implications.