ECO LOGS MADE FROM RESIDUE OF COFFEE RURAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, QUINDIO, COLOMBIA

Economics

CONTENT

Economics

Coffee consumption; Main exports & imports; Pollution; Fair-trade International

Character

Fairness

Global Goal

Skill

Compare & Contrast; Questioning; Critical Thinking; Collaboration; Hypothesis

Age Group

12-13 years / Grade 8

Learning Standards

McREL International Economics: 3. Understands the concept of prices and the interaction of supply and demand in a market economy. 10. Understands basic concepts about international economics

Prerequisite

None

LEARNING GOAL & PURPOSE

This is an inspiring story of a team of students from Rural Educational Institution, Quindio, Colombia, who came together and helped their municipality by working on the major cause of pollution due to the coffee industry. To combat this, they created Eco logs with the waste of coffee residue to replace wood and coal that the farmers are using in the coffee drying machines and at the fire places in their homes. These Eco logs are now being used by several farms with a positive and a sustainable result.

Lesson Plan

  • Students can do research on coffee consumption per capita in their country. How has it evolved during the last years? The teacher can ask them to guess the reasons why an increase is being given.

 

  • Following questions can be brought to the classroom: What are your country’s main exports & imports? Is there a tight connection between exports and the main employment sectors? Students can be divided into groups, and each group can choose a region to analyze. They can make a poster, and hold an exhibition. What similarities and differences can be highlighted?

 

  • Pollution is having a great impact on the economy and vice versa. The teacher can ask students to investigate why. Is your government taking action to avoid further problems? What do the most recent studies say? What measures can be taken?

 

  • The teacher can have a session on Fair-trade International, "a global organization working to secure a better deal for farmers and workers." How is it improving farmers' working conditions? Students can analyze their impact. Students can also do research on how working conditions are where they live and make a comparison.