Themes:
Resource Type:
About The Resource
The Sustainable Futures Unit Of Work is a ten-week project based learning resource that challenges students to explore one of the most pressing issues facing our world today, how we consume, produce and manage resources responsibly. Through the lens of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, students investigate the global challenges of plastic pollution, food waste and fast fashion before developing innovative solutions that promote more sustainable futures.
Working in teams, students select one sustainability challenge and move through a structured design thinking process that helps them understand the root causes behind the issue, explore global case studies and define an area where meaningful innovation could occur. Throughout the unit, students investigate how businesses, communities and individuals are responding to sustainability challenges around the world and examine how similar ideas could be adapted for local impact.
As the unit progresses, students complete root cause analysis activities, rapid ideation exercises, user persona development, market research, sustainability audits and feasibility checks before developing a minimum viable product that demonstrates how their solution would work in practice. Students are encouraged to consider environmental impact, practicality, user needs and long-term viability as they refine their ideas.
The unit culminates in a final pitch presentation where each team presents its sustainability innovation, explains the problem it addresses and demonstrates how the concept could contribute to a more responsible future. Designed to build critical thinking, collaboration, problem solving and future focused innovation skills, this unit connects classroom learning to real global challenges in a highly practical way.
Age Group
High School Students
Learning Time
10 weeks of classroom delivery. Approximately 10 x 60-minute lessons, with flexibility for extended project work
Student Output
Students develop and pitch a sustainability innovation along with designing visual materials, prototypes, or supporting assets that demonstrate how their solution would reduce waste or improve responsible consumption.
Delivery Format
Digital download including editable PowerPoint, Word documents, and printable PDF resources.
Curriculum Alignment
This resource features strong links with the following curriculum areas:
Find Out More
Browse the tabs below to find out more about this resource:
What's Included
Upon purchasing the Sustainable Futures Unit Of Work, you will receive a downloadable bundle of teaching resources designed to support the delivery of a full project based learning unit centred around sustainability, innovation and responsible consumption.
The resource package includes a mix of editable teaching materials and ready to use student templates to help educators deliver the program with ease. The unit overview, unit plan and lesson slide decks are provided in editable formats so teachers can adapt the materials to suit their classroom and curriculum needs. Student facing resources such as templates and task sheets are provided as PDF documents ready to print or distribute digitally.
Included in this bundle:
Unit Overview (3 Pages - Editable Word Document): A high level overview of the unit outlining the weekly structure, learning objectives, classroom activities, and teaching notes.
Task Sheet With Challenge Overview (PDF): A student facing brief outlining the sustainability challenge, focus areas, and final pitch expectations.
Lesson Slide Decks (10 x Editable PowerPoint Documents): Presentation slides designed to guide each stage of the unit, introducing concepts, activities, case studies, and structured classroom prompts.
Printable Student Templates (6 x PDF Documents): A collection of printable worksheets designed to support research, ideation, root cause analysis, user personas, feasibility checks, and pitch development.
10 Week Unit Plan (10 Pages - Editable Word Document): A detailed week by week teaching guide including lesson objectives, activity instructions, and materials required.
Guide To Team Formation (PDF): A practical resource supporting teachers to form effective student teams based on strengths and collaboration styles.
These resources have been designed to support educators in delivering a complete sustainability innovation project, giving students the tools and guidance they need to explore environmental challenges, develop practical solutions and communicate ideas with confidence.
Contact Our Team
If you have any questions about this resource, would like advice on which challenge pack or teaching resource may work best for your students, or need to purchase via invoice, our team would be delighted to assist. Simply complete the form below and a member of the BOP Industries team will be in touch shortly.