Unit 4, Lesson 5: Building Alternatives
Designing a Fairer Future
Enrichment Suggestion (LF_SocialSciences): Introduce the concept of "The Commons" (Nga Taonga Tuku Iho). Things that belong to everyone and shouldn't be sold (e.g., air, water, language, open-source software).
Learning Objectives (Whāinga Ako)
Students will understand:
- There are alternatives to the standard "profit-first" business model.
- How Cooperatives distribute wealth differently to Corporations.
- The idea of an "Ecological Ceiling" and "Social Foundation" (The Doughnut).
Students will be able to:
- Design a basic set of rules for a new economic system.
- Critique current systems using the "Fairness" lens.
- Explain why "Growth at all costs" might be a problem on a finite planet.
Lesson Structure
Do Now: The Island Rulebook (10 minutes)
Scenario
The class is shipwrecked on a desert island. It is rich in fruit, fish, and timber. You need to decide how to run things before chaos breaks out.
- Choice A: One person owns the island. Everyone else works for them to earn food.
- Choice B: Everyone owns the island together. Work and food are shared equally.
- Choice C: People own what they can fence off. If you're slow, you get the bad land.
Vote: Which system do you choose and why?
Activity 1: The Cooperative Difference (15 minutes)
The Corporation
- Goal: Maximize profit for shareholders (who might not even work there).
- Decisions: Made by the people with the most money/shares.
- Example: A typical supermarket chain.
The Cooperative (Co-op)
- Goal: Serve the members (workers or customers).
- Decisions: One member, one vote (Democracy).
- Example: Fonterra (Farmer owned), Foodstuffs (Store owned).
- Key Idea: Wealth stays with the people who do the work.
Activity 2: Doughnut Economics (15 minutes)
Visualizing Balance
Imagine a Doughnut. In the hole is poverty (not enough food, housing). Outside the ring is pollution (climate change). We want to live IN the Doughnut.
The Social Foundation (Inner Ring)
No one falls below this. Everyone has:
- Food & Water
- Healthcare
- Education
- Voice
The Ecological Ceiling (Outer Ring)
We don't overshoot this using:
- Too much carbon
- Too much freshwater
- Too much land
Capstone Activity: Design Your Own Economy (20 minutes)
The Challenge
In groups, design a new economic system for Aotearoa in 2050.
You must decide:
- Who owns the water? (Private companies, Government, Nobody/Everyone?)
- How do businesses make decisions? (Bosses decide vs Workers vote)
- What counts as "Success"? (GDP/Money vs Well-being/Happiness)
- How do you look after Papatūānuku?
Wrap-up & Reflection (5 minutes)
Exit Ticket Questions:
- What is one advantage of a Cooperative business?
- Why can't we just keep "growing" the economy forever? (Think about the Doughnut).
- What is one hope you have for the future economy of Aotearoa?
Unit Complete!
You have explored systems, wealth, history, and future alternatives. You are now Economic Justice experts.
Resources & Homework
Required Resources:
- Paper and colors for "Doughnut" drawing
- Co-op vs Corp comparison chart
Homework/Extension:
- Investigate: Find a business in your town that is a Cooperative or Social Enterprise.
- Watch: "Kate Raworth: Doughnut Economics" (TED Talk) - for advanced students.