Multiplication

Motivating

Summary information

Age range:	7 - 14 year olds
Curriculum links:	Maths
Time needed:	40 minutes
Group size:	Individuals / pairs / plenary
Setting:	Indoors
Key vocabulary:	Individual, community, society
Sustainability learning outcome(s):	Pupils will: To understand how everyday activities impact on the environment. To understand that we can all make a positive difference.

Preparation:

Display the poster and copies of the following quotes:

"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does"
William James (Psychologist and Philosopher, 1842 – 1910)

"Each and every one of us can make changes in the way we live our lives and become part of the solution"
Al Gore, 45th US Vice President

Resources needed:

Calculators (optional), copies of Resource Sheet 1, paper

Procedure:

1. Discuss the quotes:

What’s the message?
Does it matter what we do? Why?
Can we make a difference?

2. Imagine that you are part of a campaign team called ‘Be Part of the Change’. You have been asked to create sets of statements that can be used to show people how they can make a difference – on their own and as part of a larger and larger team.
Each set of statements should:

Show how the effects of action are multiplied by time (e.g. per day, per month, per year) and/or by the number of people taking part (e.g. if everyone in the family/school/town/country did the same…)
Each set of statements must be supported by notes showing how the totals were calculated.

Example

Josie now walks to school.
This cuts her Co2 emissions by 340g per day.
That’s 64.6kg of Co2 emissions per year.
If everyone at her school did the same they’d save 25 840kg of Co2 emissions per year.

Notes: 2km per day x 170g CO2 per km = 340g CO2 per day x 190 school days = 64.6kg CO2 per year x 400 pupils = 25 840kg CO2 per year.

Use the data sheet to create your own sets of statements.

3. Invite pupils to share their statements in a plenary. They could use calculators to check the calculations used in the notes. Discuss the following:

What’s the best way to make people feel that they have the power to make a difference?
Could these sorts of statements help?

Extensions:

Create a series of visual images to support some of your statements (e.g. a car creates enough CO2 to fill about 17 party balloons for every kilometre travelled. 26 tonnes of CO2 – that’s about the same mass as an Asian elephant)

Evaluation:

Work with a partner. Make a list of things that are likely to encourage people to feel that they have the power to make a difference.

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