How can citizens work together for a more sustainable future? (Short unit of work)

How can citizens work together for a more sustainable future?

About this unit

This two-lesson unit helps students understand climate change, sustainability, and climate justice through active citizenship. Students explore how environmental challenges impact people differently and why sustainable development is crucial.

The first lesson introduces climate change, climate justice, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through discussions and analysis, students examine global and local responsibilities in tackling these issues. The second lesson focuses on activism, showcasing real changemakers and their methods. Students then develop their own advocacy strategies, practising persuasive communication and considering ways to take action in their communities.

By the end of the unit, students will have a deeper understanding of sustainability issues, the role of collective action, and how they can contribute to environmental and social justice.

National curriculum links
KS3: the roles played by public institutions and voluntary groups in society, and the ways in which citizens work together to improve their communities, including opportunities to participate in school-based activities

KS4: human rights and international law; the different ways in which a citizen can contribute to the improvement of his or her community, to include the opportunity to participate actively in community volunteering, as well as other forms of responsible activity

Citizenship skills
Critical thinking, active citizenship, representing your views to others, evaluation, Informing others’ opinions, collaborative working, making judgements, investigation, debating, advocacy

Citizenship concepts
Fairness and justice, rights, inequalities and participation, sustainability

Building progression
 Other units linked to this theme include:

Year 7: How can we be informed consumers?

Year 8: Who has the power to bring about change in our local communities?

Year 9: Community volunteers or social media influencers – who has most power and influence?

Year 10: How can I be a changemaker in my local community?

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