The roots of ESD already exist in a number of curriculum subjects,
such as geography, science and citizenship. However, issues of sustainable
development can be used to provide a context for pupils to develop skills
linked to many other aspects of the curriculum, including literacy,
thinking skills and other key skills.
Art
can be used to visually demonstrate environmental issues and to encourage
pupils to think creatively and express their own views and perceptions.
Studying art from different cultures and traditions can demonstrate
how beliefs, ideas and values are represented differently throughout
the world.
Design and Technology
can combine practical skills with an understanding of environmental
issues and industrial practice, so that pupils become critical and informed
product users. ESD could explore the impact of products by evaluating
processes and products with consideration to cultural, moral and environmental
issues, and resources used.
English
provides many opportunities to explore the issues of sustainable development
by providing a context for pupils to develop skills such as reading,
writing, listening and speaking. Coverage of sustainable development
issues in the media can provide a basis for debates and group discussions
from different view points, exploring hidden meanings, recognising bias
and differentiating between fact and fiction. Modern fiction, poems,
texts and case studies can be used to demonstrate the ways different
cultures are represented.
Geography
is the focus in the curriculum for understanding issues about the environment
and sustainable development, so there are a large number of opportunities
for ESD to be explored. Topical issues can be used to give context to
many elements of geography, investigating issues such as why people
and places are interdependent and why development in different countries
is related to the quality of life.
History
provides an interesting perspective for ESD by exploring why past issues
are still important today and how our attitudes towards the environment
have changed. It can be used to show how past actions and choices have
led to changes and what effect historical changes have had on the environment
and peoples lives. Studying history from a variety of perspectives i.e.
political, religious, social, cultural and scientific, can give pupils
insight into topical situations.
ICT
is an important tool for ESD as it offers opportunities for models and
simulations to investigate changing relationships. Pupils can also explore
the impact of ICT on global interdependence, and the significance it
has for developing countries and the opportunities it could offer them.
Maths
The practical skills that maths teaches can be given a real-life focus
by environmental issues, for example how maths can be used to make informed
decisions and how it can be manipulated to support different interpretations
of an issue. Sustainable development issues, such as international debt,
resource use etc. can be used to provide a context for handling data,
interpreting and discussing results.
Modern Foreign Languages
Studying foreign languages can build an appreciation of different countries,
cultures, people and communities. Newspapers, reports and other texts
covering sustainability issues could be used as teaching aids of the
target language.
Music
is an significant part of culture, past and present, and can be used
to explore different cultures throughout the world. Music also communicates
ideas and feelings about issues, for example famine, international debt
and war. Pupils could discuss the use of music in this way and develop
their own musical ideas.
PE
doesn't give much scope for ESD, but it can be an opportunity to promote
social skills and engage in sports played globally. Dance can be used
to represent different cultures throughout the world and global sporting
events can also be used to demonstrate culture differences i.e. opening
ceremonies.
PSHE and Citizenship
allows many issues in ESD to be debated. Global environmental and sustainable
issues could be used as moral dilemmas to provoke discussions, developing
skills of enquiry, communication and participation. The roles of the
media, national and international organisations in relation to development
issues and conflicts could also be explored.
RE
ESD provides opportunities in RE to encourage the moral, social and
cultural development of pupils, and to give them a sense of being part
of a global community. Learning about the worlds major religions and
how different beliefs give rise to different views about the environment,
can help pupils to understand and appreciate other peoples opinions.
Science
Some aspects of science directly relate to environmental and sustainability
issues, allowing the possibility to focus on some important case studies,
for example tropical rainforests, diversity and protection, impacts
of burning fossil fuels and energy efficiency. Current scientific evidence
and theories could be used to provide explanations of environmental
issues, and help pupils gain an understanding about the effects humans
have on the world, the need for diversity and protection, and the issues
that arise over the use and misuse of science globally.
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