1. The abstract concept of sustainability is hard to teach. Let’s do a hands-on activity that simulates one aspect of sustainability.

2. Sustainable Resource Management Inquiry Teams of 4 students figure out how to manage a resource sustainably. Begin with 16 toothpicks in the resource pool. Each person must draw at least 1 toothpick per round. At the end of each round, "Mother Nature" will replenish the resource by approximately one-half of the existing amount. Major question: What is the maximum that each person can withdraw and still have the resource pool last in perpetuity?

3. Processing a Simulation What did you learn? How is the simulation like real life? How does the simulation differ from real life?

4. Rules for Need vs. Greed Instead of toothpicks you play with candy. Start with teams of 4 players and a resource pool of 16. Each player must take 1 per round to survive. At the end of each round, "Mother Nature" will replenish the resource by approximately one-half of the existing amount. At the end of the game, each team member will get to eat all the candy that s/he has taken from the pool.

5. Rules for Need vs. Greed Instead of toothpicks you play with candy. Start with teams of 4 players and a resource pool of 16. Each player must take 1 per round to survive. At the end of each round, "Mother Nature" will replenish the resource by approximately one-half of the existing amount. At the end of the game, each team member will get to eat all the candy that s/he has taken from the pool.

6. Processing a Simulation What did you learn? How is the simulation like real life? How does the simulation differ from real life?

7. Reference Education for Sustainable Development Toolkit http://www.esdtoolkit.org By Rosalyn McKeown, Charles Hopkins, Regina Rizzi, and Marianne Chrystalbridge. Funded by the Waste Management Research and Education Institute.

8. Contact Information Rosalyn McKeown, Ph.D. 113 Hendrix Drive Oak Ridge TN 37830 USA 1 (865) 482-6535 mckeowni@utk.edu