Skip to main content

Ecological Footprint: Introduction to Green Math

Ecological Footprint: Introduction to Green Math
Contributors
Beyond Benign
Beyond Benign, Inc.
Learning Objets
Summary
This introductory lesson engages students in calculating their personal ecological footprint using an online footprint calculator. Students analyze how their food consumption, consumer habits, energy use, and travel behaviors contribute to global resource demand. By comparing their results to planetary limits, students evaluate the concept of carrying capacity and explore strategies to reduce their environmental impact. The activity introduces systems thinking and personal responsibility within sustainability frameworks.
Keyword Tags
Environmental Impacts
Sustainability
Systems Thinking
Resource Consumption
Personal Environmental Impact
File (PDF, PPT, image, etc)
ecological_footprint.doc
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.59877/TWPT3337
Learning Goals/Student Objectives
Students will:

- Define and explain the concept of ecological footprint
- Use an online ecological footprint calculator to evaluate personal resource consumption
- Analyze how individual behaviors impact global resource use
- Calculate percentage change in resource use
- Identify actionable strategies to reduce environmental impact
- Apply systems thinking to sustainability challenges
Object Type
Activities/Technology (e.g., in-class activities, online games, hands-on activities/manipulatives, outreach, virtual tools, etc.)
Audience
High School (Secondary School)
Green Chemistry Principles
Waste Prevention
Design for Energy Efficiency
Use of Renewable Feedstocks
Design for Degradation
U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Good Health and Well-Being
Quality Education
Affordable and Clean Energy
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Responsible Consumption and Production
Climate Action
Safety Precautions, Hazards, and Risk Assessment
No chemical or laboratory hazards.

Consider:

- Ensuring student privacy when discussing personal footprint results.
- Avoiding shaming language around consumption patterns.
- Framing discussion respectfully and inclusively.
- Internet access required; verify website accessibility prior to class.
NGSS Standards, if applicable
HS-ESS3-4: Evaluate or refine technological solutions that reduce impacts of human activities.

HS-ETS1-3: Evaluate solutions to complex real-world problems.

Science & Engineering Practice: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking.

Crosscutting Concept: Systems and System Models.

Share This

Submitted by

Tyler Schisler
Published on
Moderation state
Published
Collection
Math & Engineering
High School Resources
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.