Sustainability

Cross-curricular priorities in the ACARA History Curriculum: Sustainability

I found this cartoon by Tom Fishburne (2008) and discovered it to be valuable in relation to sustainability. This cartoon shows sustainability in a more modern society. It shows the wants and needs from the modern world, but the realistic side of society. 

This cartoon shows how becoming ‘cheap’ is the new ‘chic’ when involving the economy. This cartoon shows how Australian history has changed over time and how citizens have to exchange the things they are use to, to more inexpensive options so they are able to live in a more affordable environment.  

According to the Australian Curriculum, history provides students the content that supports the development of students’ worldview, particularly in the judgements about past social and economic systems (ACARA, n.d). ACARA (n.d) claims that students are to make decisions about sustainability to help shape a better future, which is dependant on past and present experiences. In this learning area, students understand the changes in the environment over time and the natural resources and the rise of environmental movements (ACARA, n.d). 

The video here by OneBookUTA, tells us that over the years since the 80s and 90s, the aim to sustainability was not really achieved and that changes were in order. This video contains historical information about sustainability and some possible changes.  

Therefore, the cartoon and video are both relevant as they apply themselves to the transformation from past to future changes in the environment and economy which can have a major effect on the future. This cartoon allows students to make decisions about the effects of sustainability and make judgements on the past social and economical system that is required from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority as apart of the priority, sustainability. 

Reference List:

ACARA. (n.d). Australian curriculum, assessment and reporting authority. 

Retrieved from 

http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/History/Cross-Curriculum-Priorities

OneBookUTA (2009, July 15). The History of Sustainability. [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpXH8ts_Nr8

Tom Fishburne. (2008). Eco cheap: The new eco chic. [Image]. 

Retrieved from 

http://tomfishburne.com/2008/10/eco-cheap-the-new-eco-chic.html