Overview

During these lessons, students will explore the interconnections of palm oil production and consumption with a focus on the positive and negative impacts on society, the economy and the environment. Students will locate and describe the production of palm oil and how this production has consequences for native wildlife in the key countries being farmed. Students will develop knowledge and understanding of the ways groups are attempting to protect the environment most at risk from exploitation for palm oil production.  

Learning intentions:   

• develop an understanding of the link between production, consumption and sustainability.   

• develop an understanding of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of production and consumption.   

Success criteria:  

• apply understanding of sustainability and production and consumption to identify interconnections and analyse their effectiveness.  

Syllabus content: 

• Investigate the effects of production and consumption of goods on people, places and environments throughout to world, for example: (ACHGK068) 

• examination of environmental, social and economic impacts of production and consumption of consumer goods. 

• assessment of the effect of production or consumption of goods on ONE place or environment 

• explanation of responses by governments, groups and individuals to minimise the effects of production and consumption. 

Outcomes:  

• GE4-2 describes processes and influences that form and transform places and environments 

• GE4-3 explains how interactions and connections between people, places and environments result in change 

• GE4-4 examines perspectives of people and organisations on a range of geographical issues 

• GE4-7 acquires and processes geographical information by selecting and using geographical tools for inquiry 

• GE4-8 Communicates geographical information using a variety of strategies

In this lesson, students will develop knowledge and understanding of the interconnections of palm oil production, identifying where palm oil is grown around the world and how widely used the product is. Students will recognise that the production and consumption of palm oil comes at a cost to the natural environment particularly the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia while supporting an economy for many farmers in these locations.  

Content: 

• Investigate the effects of production and consumption of goods on people, places and environments throughout to world, for example: (ACHGK068) 

• examination of environmental, social and economic impacts of production and consumption of consumer goods. 

• assessment of the effect of production or consumption of goods on ONE place or environment 

• explanation of responses by governments, groups and individuals to minimise the effects of production and consumption. 

Outcomes:  

•  GE4-2 describes processes and influences that form and transform places and environments 

• GE4-3 explains how interactions and connections between people, places and environments result in change 

• GE4-7 acquires and processes geographical information by selecting and using geographical tools for inquiry 

• GE4-8 Communicates geographical information using a variety of strategies 

In this lesson, students will deepen their understanding and knowledge of products containing palm oil. Exploring the inconsistency of labelling palm oil on products and multiple names associated with the product, students will identify where in their own life they are accessing the product. Further exploring if the products they purchase and use are sustainably certified.  

Content: 

• Investigate the effects of production and consumption of goods on people, places and environments throughout to world, for example: (ACHGK068) 

• examination of environmental, social and economic impacts of production and consumption of consumer goods. 

• assessment of the effect of production or consumption of goods on ONE place or environment 

• explanation of responses by governments, groups and individuals to minimise the effects of production and consumption. 

Outcomes:  

•  GE4-4 examines perspectives of people and organisations on a range of geographical issues 

• GE4-7 acquires and processes geographical information by selecting and using geographical tools for inquiry 

• GE4-8 Communicates geographical information using a variety of strategies 

In this lesson, students will consolidate their knowledge of production and consumption of palm oil and design and submit a Public Service Announcement (PSA) task. The PSA is a 3-minute video or podcast outlining the need for sustainable palm production and promoting sustainably certified product.  

Content: 

• Investigate the effects of production and consumption of goods on people, places and environments throughout to world, for example: (ACHGK068) 

• examination of environmental, social and economic impacts of production and consumption of consumer goods. 

• assessment of the effect of production or consumption of goods on ONE place or environment 

• explanation of responses by governments, groups and individuals to minimise the effects of production and consumption. 

Outcomes:  

•  GE4-2 describes processes and influences that form and transform places and environments 

• GE4-3 explains how interactions and connections between people, places and environments result in change 

• GE4-8 Communicates geographical information using a variety of strategies