Minds On
Task 1: Natural resources
A natural resource is something found in nature that people find useful or vulnerable. A natural resource is limited and cannot be replaced once it is used up (e.g. coal, oil).
Brainstorm a list of natural resources that can be found around the world.
Record your ideas in print, digitally, orally, or in another method of your choice.
Use the following images to help your brainstorm.
A person planting a seedling in the soil.
A pumpjack, which is used to produce oil.
A stream of water.
Wind turbines.
A group of people in an underground mine.
Brainstorm
Predict
What role does access to natural resources play in determining quality of life?
Which resource do you believe is the most important and essential for survival?
Organize a list of natural resources from greatest to least essential.
Action
Task 1: Quality of life indicators
In this learning activity, you will be exploring a few quality of life indicators. Quality of life indicators are all interrelated. Interrelated is a term we use to show that something relates or connects to something else.
For this learning activity, you will be exploring three quality of life indicators: access to clean drinking, access to education, and access to reliable electricity.
Brainstorm
Predict
How do you think access to clean drinking water, access to education, and access to reliable electricity could be connected?
Task 2: Clean drinking water
One of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is that everyone, universally, will have access to basic and safely managed water by 2030. Access to clean water is vital not only for drinking, but also for sanitation and hygiene. In a method of your choice, predict:
- How does access to safe water impact a community?
- What other issues might arise without access to water?
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, April 1). Global WASH Fast Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/global/wash_statistics.html#:~:text=An%20estimated%203%20billion.
In Canada, over 120 Indigenous communities do not have access to clean, safe, and sustainable water. Even though many communities are located near or on water in a country that is considered “water-rich,” the lack of infrastructure and funding has denied Indigenous communities this basic human right.
Explore the following video “Water Everywhere but Not a Drop to Drink” by The Water Brothers. As you are investigating, create jot notes in a method of your choice. Consider how the lack of access to safe water is impacting Indigenous communities in Canada.
Use your jot notes to complete a Venn diagram. Your Venn diagram will compare the perspective of Indigenous communities and the government in Canada on the issue of safe, clean, and sustainable water. You can use the following fillable and printable Venn Diagram document or use another method of your choice.
Brainstorm
Reflect
How does access to safe and clean water impact Indigenous communities? What are some of the short- and long-term impacts?
Task 3: Access to education
Education is a basic human right that impacts quality of life in many countries. For this human right to work, there must be equality of opportunity, universal access, and enforceable and monitored quality standards. Countries that offer their citizens equal access to education have higher literacy rates, leading to higher employment rates. This is also linked to lower fertility and birth rates and better maternal health care.
The story of Malala Yousafzai
In some areas of the world, girls are discouraged and prevented from going to school. Malala Yousafzai was born in 1997 in Pakistan, and her father was determined to give her every opportunity. In 2008, Malala’s father was a teacher at an all-girls school, until it was shut down by extremists, in the country. In 2012, Malala spoke out publicly to raise awareness about the right to education, specifically for girls. After speaking out, Malala became a target of the extremists, and was shot when boarding her school bus. She woke up 10 days later in the hospital. After months of surgery and rehabilitation, Malala was determined to continue her fight for equal education for girls. She continues to fight to ensure all girls receive access to 12 years of free, safe, and quality education. She established the “Malala Fund,” a non-government organization dedicated to equal education for girls.
Test Your Skills!
Research
Conduct research on the Malala Fund and respond to the following questions:
- What is the goal of the Malala Fund?
- What specific strategies is the Malala Fund supporting? How is it making a difference?
- Why do you think the education of females in a country is linked to the wealth of that country?
Record your answers in a method of your choice.
When you’re ready, press the “Answers” button to reveal some possible answers to these questions.
- The goal of the Malala Fund is to advocate for every girl’s right to free, safe, and quality education to create a more equal world.
- The Malala Fund invests in education advocates and activists who challenge practices and policies that prevent girls from going to school in some communities worldwide. It also uses programming with local partners to challenge the beliefs, social norms, and legislation that prevent girls from going to school. The Malala Fund continues to invest in education in countries such as Afghanistan, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey. So far, they have invested 22 million dollars in Malala Fund programs and have 62 education champions.
- Education of females in a country is linked to the wealth of the country because with education, a woman is more likely to successfully gain employment and increase her income level. Women’s education leads to growth in economic and social development.
Task 4: Reliable electricity
Consider your day-to-day life. What do you typically use that requires electricity? Of these items, are any essential to survival? What importance does reliable electricity have on your daily life?
Explore the following TVO article “The Real Effect of Unreliable Electric Power on Quality of Life” by Daniel Kitts.
Press tvo today to access “The Real Effect of Unreliable Electric Power on Quality of Life.”
tvo today (Opens in a new tab)
Connections
Connections
How does a lack of reliable electricity profoundly impact day-to-day living for remote Indigenous communities?
Brainstorm
Reflect
How are access to clean drinking water, access to education, and access to reliable electricity connected?
When you’re ready, press the ‘Answer’ button to reveal a possible answer to this question.
Consolidation
Task 1: Show what you know!
Complete the following multiple choice quiz based on what you’ve learned today.
Task 2: Think about your learning
Answer the following reflection questions using a method of your choice.
- What role does access to resources play in quality of life?
- What factors affect peoples' and communities’ ability to access resources?
- What do you think the next steps should be for access to resources?
Reflection
As you read the following descriptions, select the one that best describes your current understanding of the learning in this activity. Press the corresponding button once you have made your choice.
I feel...
Now, expand on your ideas by recording your thoughts using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
When you review your notes on this learning activity later, reflect on whether you would select a different description based on your further review of the material in this learning activity.