GBO Hawaii Classroom

Sustainability, policy, business and FUN!

Sustainability Primer Lesson Plan: Geography, Human Geography. Grades 9-12, College 1&2.
Introduction
Sustainability is the great buzzword of our time. Its a
classic win-win, and it seems that everyones on board.
Yet, progress falls short of its potential, possibly because
there is so much confusion about how to go about this
grand vision. GBO Hawaii is a new board game that is
educational, inspirational, and most importantly, fun.
This lesson plan helps students understand sustainability
from a business and geographic perspective.
EDUCATION
Materials
1. GBO Hawaii, the green economy board game: up to four players can play at a time.
2. Slide deck, downloadable at GBOHawaii.com, to accompany this lesson plan
Time
1. A one-hour class session for Engage, 2-3 one-hour class sessions for Explore and
Explain. The game can be then used again and again--learning outcomes will vary
depending on the roll of the dice and the appearance of a variety of cards.
Vocabulary (Green glossary online at www.GreenBusinessOwner.com)
Sustainability Zero waste GMO
Ecotourism Biofuels Green Building/LEED Certication
Organic Geothermal Renewable Energy
Clean Tech Energy Efciency Sustainable Food
Municipality
Objectives & Expected Learning Outcomes
1. Understand the knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics needed for embarking on
a green career path.
2. Learn about the role of local, state, and federal governments in (at times) promoting or (at
times) discouraging sustainability initiatives such as clean technologies, smart growth, energy
efcient infrastructure, economic development and green job development.
3. Learn about public policy from local municipalities, states and the federal government.
4. Understand geography and place-based resources.
5. Gain entrepreneurship and business skills including allocation of limited resources,
competitive strategies, recognition of opportunities, and calculation of return on investment.
Copyright 2012, GreenBusinessOwner.com. All rights reserved.
Background for the teacher
The island state of Hawaii, with its geographically diverse resource base, makes a tremendous
learning laboratory for sustainable economic development. The state has abundant renewable
potential: ample sunshine, consistent trade winds, geothermal activity, and a tropical climate
that allows for year-round agriculture. Yet despite these resources, the states policies over the
last 50 years have left it as a metaphorical canary in a coal mine for globalized economies. The
state imports 90% of its food. It burns imported diesel fuel for 90% of its electricity, and its
number one export, according to Governor Neil Abercrombie, is cash spent on foreign oil. Due
to geographic constrictions and policies that have discouraged recycling and composting,
landll space is extremely limited, so the state burns most of its trash, generating dioxins and
other carcinogenic pollution. And perhaps most troubling, the states economy is almost entirely
dependent on tourism and military spending, both of which are dependent on cheap oil. The
service economy that results also leaves the average Hawaiian citizen completely out of range
of home ownership as many service industry jobs simply dont pay a living wage.
Hawaii has committed to one of the most aggressive sustainability journeys of any geopolitical
entity. By 2050, the state aims to derive 70% of its power from clean, renewable sources.
Signicant resources are being put forth to develop an agricultural renaissance. The goals of all
the sustainability efforts in the state are to create a clean economy that provides living wage
jobs, local manufacturing, energy independence, and some resilience to global economic
trends.
Geographic challenges remain. The majority of the states population lives in Honolulu County.
The majority of the geothermal energy potential is in Hawaii and Maui Counties, and the state
is considering a vast undersea cable to connect wind energy to the population centers.
GBO Hawaii, the sustainability board game, encompasses all of this activity in a fun, engaging
format that allows students to understand economic development and sustainability, as well as
its various stakeholders, their motivations, and their desired outcomes. Players in the game are
investors looking to make money, to help the state offset imports of oil, displace imported,
processed and/or genetically modied foods, to reduce waste, and to create green
collar jobs that provide living wage opportunities for entrepreneurs and workers in Hawaii.
This concept, wherein business is conducted for more than just nancial return, is often referred
to as Triple Bottom Line, where businesses positively affect people, planet, and prot. This is
one of the fundamental concepts of sustainability, and part of why sustainability has become
such a popular buzzword.
We strongly recommend you play the game yourself rst, as the rst time with any game can
be confusing. Once you get the hang of it, it ows, but you should know the game in order to
introduce it to your students. There are instructional videos on our website
(www.GBOHawaii.com), as well as the written instructions and FAQ page, but should you
have any questions you cant nd answers to, or simply want to ask questions about the game
before introducing it to your class, dont hesitate to reach out to us.
Copyright 2012, GreenBusinessOwner.com. All rights reserved.
Game play options:
You can play GBO Hawaii as a board game or as a card game. This lesson plan is for the board
game play, but if youd like a quicker, easier to learn version to start your students with, click on
the Versions link at the top of our website (www.GBOHawaii.com).
Note that the geography-based elements of the card game are much more limited than the
board game, but you may, if you like, play the card game, too.
Copyright 2012, GreenBusinessOwner.com. All rights reserved.
GEOGRAPHY, COUNTY SEATS, AND
PLACE-BASED RESOURCES
The island state of Hawaii has an ideal
geographic setup that allows students to learn
about municipalities. The state relatively
cleanly breaks up into four counties that are
very distinct in terms of boundaries. Hawaii
County (far right on map), for instance,
encompasses just the Big Island of Hawaii.
The Big Island is the most sparsely populated
of the islands, so students will nd that
businesses will generally cost less to start on
the Big Island versus other places where land
values are much higher. Reecting reality, the
Big Island is a place where agricultural
production makes more sense than in
Honolulu County, where land costs are very high. In addition, the Big Island has geothermal
activity (as evidenced by the active volcano on the island), so players will nd opportunities to
start geothermal energy businesses on the Big Island that arent available farther west past Maui.
By using place-based resources, students are learning geography and business strategy at the
same time. Additionally, each county will pass its own legislation throughout the game, affecting
businesses located there by either incentivizing certain activities or providing subsidies to more
unhealthy businesses like oil, gas, and plastics, which may have negative effects on the green
businesses located there.
Engage
1. Use the GBO Hawaii--geography supplement slides, (downloadable from
GBOHawaii.com) to project in the classroom. In pairs or small groups, ask students to
answer the discussion questions next to each card by writing their answers down for later
discussion. (If slide projection is not available, you may also distribute printed papers from
the cards from the game (student copy) sheet at the end of this lesson (i.e., just print the
pages under that heading)).
2. When youre all done, discuss group answers as a whole class, so that students can learn
from each other before playing the game. You dont necessarily have to address any of these
answers before playing the game, just make note of them for discussion after game play.
3. For homework after this rst class, send students the introductory video and the video for
how to play the game (8 minutes), found at http://gbohawaii.com/how-to-play/.
Explore
1. During your next class session, set up the game according to the instructional video for set-
up found at http://gbohawaii.com/how-to-play/.
2. Assign students to play the game in groups of up to 4.
3. The winner of the game is determined by a ranking system (page 6, instructions).
4. Keep these ranked scorecards for your next class discussion.
Explain
1. Ask students to discuss what worked and what didnt work for them in their strategies of
where they were on the map throughout the game. Many of the cards that were used during
their game will still be in front of them after the game is over, so they will be able to show
how certain cards worked well--or didnt--together.
2. Ask students if they can identify how the Policy and Event cards helped to shape their
strategies or affected their investments. Many times, an Event will happen that will really help
some part of the sustainable economy, and many times, the opposite will happen, so students
will likely have some examples of those that theyd be willing to share.
3. Ask students to explain the inuence of the oil industry lobbyists in terms of business done in
any particular county.
4. Ask students to identify any particular place-based resource trend they were able to spot.
Examples of this are geothermal resources in Maui and Hawaii County, Carsharing businesses
in Honolulu County (this kind of business typically needs some population density), farms in
Kauai or Hawaii County (these businesses need places where land is cheaper, and population
density is less), more tourism businesses in Kauai and Hawaii County, etc.
5. Ask students whether they know of any businesses like the ones started in the game in real
life where you live. There are many examples that are on the back of many of the business
cards. The Carsharing Service is based on Zipcar (www.Zipcar.com), for instance, and the
Waste Oil Biofuels business is based on Pacic Biodiesel (www.biodiesel.com). There are
many green businesses in every community, and its possible that many of the businesses the
students invested in in the game are similar to one that is in your geographic area.
Copyright 2012, GreenBusinessOwner.com. All rights reserved.
Extend
1. Interest in locally grown food is a major part of GBO Hawaii. Is a similar initiative seen in
your area? Assign students a project to identify a buy local campaign in your area,
including the businesses involved, and the economic and environmental impacts of the
programs. Who is behind the programs, and why are they pushing them?
2. In GBO Hawaii, the main policies and events affecting municipalities revolved around
counties banning (or considering banning) plastic bags, and around incentives (e.g., county
interest in biofuels programs, state marketing initiatives and incentives for waste reduction, or
federal government interest in reducing oil subsidies, for instance). Ask students if they can
research and identify local, state, and federal incentives and policies in your area that affect
local economic development.
Copyright 2012, GreenBusinessOwner.com. All rights reserved.
EVENT
Lobbyists descend to work against
the legislation and assure a market
for petrochemical products.
Move Lobbyists to Honolulu County.
HONOLULU COUNTY
CONSIDERS
PLASTIC BAG BAN
EDA>8N
For eoch business you hove lhol
is run by on Fcolourism
& Hospilolily Fnlrepreneur, goin
$3O,OOO lhis lurn, ond drow one
Resource 0ord eoch round lhis
cord is in ploy.
HI6I:EGDBDI:H
:8DIDJG>HB>CC:L
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Aloha
Copyright 2012, GreenBusinessOwner.com. All rights reserved.
Policies & Events Cards from the game (Teacher Copy). These cards are in the
same order in your PDF slides also downloadable from GBOHawaii.com
CLEAN TECH INCUBATOR
Discussion Question: What is an
incubator? Think about what other
context you might hear about the use
of an incubator.
Why would a state spend tax dollars
on creating a service to help
businesses develop clean energy?
Discussion Answer: An incubator helps
young businesses survive the early
phases, which are the most challenging,
much like an egg incubator helps more
eggs hatch into chickens by providing the
warmth and protection needed. This kind
of thing creates industries that are self-
sustaining and create a lot of jobs,
meaning a local tax base.
EATING LOCAL
Discussion Question: What does it
mean to eat local?
Why is eating local benecial to
people?
To the economy?
To the environment?
Discussion Answer: Much of our food
comes from very far away. Most students
will know that theyve eaten bananas from
Mexico, for example. Eating local, often
referred to as being a locavore, means
eating much of your food from sources
within 100 miles or within your state. Local
food tends to be fresher, and therefore
healthier for people, with more nutrients. Its
benecial to the economy because it helps
create local jobs and keep money in the
community, rather than allowing it to ow
out to multi-national cokmpanies who dont
have a vested interest in your community. It
takes less fuel to transport food locally, so it
is benecial to the environment, too.
LOBBYISTS AND BAG BANS
Discussion Question: What role do
lobbyists play in government?
Why would lobbyists representing the
oil and gas industries want to stop
plastic bag bans?
Discussion Answer: Lobbyists work to
inuence policy. Lobbyists represent a
special interest group, in this case, the oil
and gas industry, which pays lobbyists to
put pressure on politicians and other
lawmakers to create laws that are favorable
to that particular industry.
Plastic bags are made from oil, and as such,
a plastic bag ban, which has been passed
on Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii Counties (not
Honolulu County yet), are bad for business.
While good for the environment and
generally supported by most retailers and
consumer groups, plastic bag bans are
fought ercely by the oil industry.
Copyright 2012, GreenBusinessOwner.com. All rights reserved.
GMO SEEDS
Discussion Question: What is a
genetically modied organism (GMO)?
Why would a biotech company sue
farmers?
(this card, in the game, actually says
$60,000, not $100,000).
Discussion Answer: GMOs are things like
corn, soy, and even animals that have been
scientically altered in their DNA during
embryonic development. Biotech
companies do this to create new varieties of
plants and animals with certain
characteristics, like resistance to herbicides.
Biotech companies do sue farmers. See
http://www.organicconsumers.org/
Monsanto/farmerssued.cfm for more
information.
PACIFIC GYRE, PLASTICS
Discussion Question: What is the
Pacic Gyre, and why is it in the
middle of the Pacic, so far from
civilization?
Why does plastic trash hurt
tourism?
Discussion Answer: The Pacic Gyre is a oating
garbage patch in the North Pacic ocean. There
are at least 5 known gyres of insurmountable size,
on Earth today. Due to oceanic currents, plastic
trash accumulates in these areas, which can be
twice the size of Texas. In places, there are 46
times more bits of plastic than plankton in the
ocean. Plastic is designed to last forever, so it
does not biodegrade, meaning these garbage
patches are with us for eternity. In addition,
plastic releases chemicals and is often eaten by
wildlife, meaning that these chemicals end up on
our dinner plates, too.
See www.5gyres.org for more information.
No one wants to see trash on beaches, least of all
tourists.
BIOFUELS
Discussion Question: What are
biofuels?
Why would the oil industry want to
ght the development of biofuels?
Discussion Answer: Biofuels work just like
gasoline and other fuels in that they can
power an engine, except that they are derived
from natural sources, like peanut oil, canola,
sugars, etc. Biodiesel is one example, and
can be used as a drop-in replacement for
diesel fuel. Ethanol is another, and can be
used to replace gasoline. Biofuels can be
locally grown and are renewable, as opposed
to gasoline, which is derived from non-
renewable and highly polluting oil.
Just like the plastic bag bans, the oil industry
will ght the development of biofuels
programs because it is a threat to their
business of selling oil and gas.
Policies & Events Cards from the game (Teacher Copy). These cards are in the
same order in your PDF slides also downloadable from GBOHawaii.com
Copyright 2012, GreenBusinessOwner.com. All rights reserved.
LEGISLATURE AND PERMITS
Discussion Question: What role does
the legislature of a state have in
economic development?
Why would contributions from the oil
industry inuence policies like
permitting applications for clean tech
projects?
Discussion Answer: Both local and state
governments have a role to play in economic
development. At times, these policies will
favor the development of certain industries. In
the case of this card, the oil industry
contributes large sums to policymakers, who
then pass legislation making it harder to do
business in industries that compete with the
oil industry, like wind farms and biofuels
development. So...all players lose permit
applications for green businesses!
Policies & Events Cards from the game (Teacher Copy). These cards are in the
same order in your PDF slides also downloadable from GBOHawaii.com
OIL SUBSIDIES
Discussion Question: Why would
the Federal Government subsidize
the oil industry?
Discussion Answer: Many believe this is a
remnant policy from the early days of oil
exploration where companies needed subsidies in
order to create industries where the markets were
not yet fully developed. Before oil became so
protable, the government subsidized the
companies operations to help them establish a
foothold and create jobs. Now, however, the
subsidies have been going on for four decades,
and the companies are among the most protable
in the world, and the subsidies are still in place!
This has a lot to do with their lobbying power!
CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Discussion Question: How is
childhood obesity related to issues of
local economies?
Discussion Answer: Local food tends to be
less processed then food produced by multi-
national companies and shipped around the
world. The farther the food has to go, the
more preservatives are needed, and the less
fresh it can be. Many studies have shown that
eating more fresh foods (as well as getting
some exercise) can greatly reduce childhood
obesity and preventable diseases like
diabetes.
Copyright 2012, GreenBusinessOwner.com. All rights reserved.
Policies & Events Cards from the game (Teacher Copy). These cards are in the
same order in your PDF slides also downloadable from GBOHawaii.com
ZERO WASTE
Discussion Questions: What is zero
waste?
Why would Hawaii commit to a zero
waste program?
Discussion Answer: Zero waste is a term used
to describe a methodology for reducing trash
stored in a landll. Waste products can be
reused or recycled in many ways, and thus not
be sent to a landll, where things like plastics
can take thousands of years to decompose.
Maintaining a landll is very expensive for the
municipality, and nding new landll space is
getting harder and harder, especially in island
economies like Hawaiis.
GREEN JOBS
Discussion Question: What are
green jobs?
Why would the state create a tax
rebate for players who create green
jobs?
Discussion Answer: Green jobs refer to jobs in
which the persons primary task is in organic
food, clean energy, waste diversion/recycling,
and many of the other industries represented in
GBO Hawaii. The state might incentivize this
through a rebate program in order to get more
people employed and to create industries where
jobs are hard to outsource, which can create an
ongoing tax revenue stream for the government.
STATE AD CAMPAIGNS
Discussion Question: Do states
advertise?
If so, why?
Why would Hawaii promote
ecotourism in an ad campaign?
Discussion Answer: Many municipalities have
economic development divisions with advertising
budgets to attract outside investment or, in this
case, visitors (tourists). Hawaii frequently
promotes its ecotourism industry as a way to
attract visitors that will come and respect the
fragile environment. Ecotourism is a eld in
which visitors tread lightly, more often
observing natural resources rather than
consuming them (think snorkeling, bird watching,
hiking, etc., as opposed to four-wheeling,
hunting, shing and wasteful cruises.
Copyright 2012, GreenBusinessOwner.com. All rights reserved.
Policies & Events Cards from the game (Student Copy). These cards are in the
same order in your PDF slides also downloadable from GBOHawaii.com
CLEAN TECH INCUBATOR
Discussion Question: What is an
incubator? Think about what other
context you might hear about the use
of an incubator.
Why would a state spend tax dollars
on creating a service to help
businesses develop clean energy?
EATING LOCAL
Discussion Question: What does it
mean to eat local?
Why is eating local benecial to
people?
To the economy?
To the environment?
LOBBYISTS AND BAG BANS
Discussion Question: What role do
lobbyists play in government?
Why would lobbyists representing the
oil and gas industries want to stop
plastic bag bans?
Copyright 2012, GreenBusinessOwner.com. All rights reserved.
GMO SEEDS
Discussion Question: What is a
genetically modied organism (GMO)?
Why would a biotech company sue
farmers?
(this card, in the game, actually says
$60,000, not $100,000).
PACIFIC GYRE, PLASTICS
Discussion Question: What is the
Pacic Gyre, and why is it in the
middle of the Pacic, so far from
civilization?
Why does plastic trash hurt
tourism?
BIOFUELS
Discussion Question: What are
biofuels?
Why would the oil industry want to
ght the development of biofuels?
Policies & Events Cards from the game (Student Copy). These cards are in the
same order in your PDF slides also downloadable from GBOHawaii.com
Copyright 2012, GreenBusinessOwner.com. All rights reserved.
LEGISLATURE AND PERMITS
Discussion Question: What role does
the legislature of a state have in
economic development?
Why would contributions from the oil
industry inuence policies like
permitting applications for clean tech
projects?
Policies & Events Cards from the game (Student Copy). These cards are in the
same order in your PDF slides also downloadable from GBOHawaii.com
OIL SUBSIDIES
Discussion Question: Why do gas
prices go up and down?
Why would oil executives collude
(work together) to drive down the
price of oil (also known as price
xing)?
Why would this be illegal?
CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Discussion Question: How is
childhood obesity related to issues of
local economies?
Copyright 2012, GreenBusinessOwner.com. All rights reserved.
Policies & Events Cards from the game (Student Copy). These cards are in the
same order in your PDF slides also downloadable from GBOHawaii.com
ZERO WASTE
Discussion Questions: What is zero
waste?
Why would Hawaii commit to a zero
waste program?
GREEN JOBS
Discussion Question: What are
green jobs?
Why would the state create a tax
rebate for players who create green
jobs?
STATE AD CAMPAIGNS
Discussion Question: Do states
advertise?
If so, why?
Why would Hawaii promote
ecotourism in an ad campaign?
Copyright 2012, GreenBusinessOwner.com. All rights reserved.
Addi$onalresourcesfortheclassroom:
Introductory and instruc.onal videos are availablefree, in
streaming format, at www.GBOHawaii.com. Blog ar.cles
about green business as well as a green glossary can be
foundatwww.GreenBusinessOwner.com/blog/andpolicies
atwww.InspiredEconomist.com.
Needmorehelpwithyour class? Feel freetoget intouch.
OurcontactinfoisattheboComofGBOHawaii.com
Game developer: Scott Cooney, M.S., M.B.A.
ScoC is a green business author, eco-entrepreneur and Adjunct Professor of
Sustainability at the University of Hawaii. McGraw-Hill published ScoCs rst
book, BuildaGreenSmall Business: ProtableWaystoBecomeanEcopreneur.
ScoCservedas projectmanagerforSaatchi &Saatchi S,asustainabilityconsul.ng
rm working with Fortune 500 companies to help them incorporate green
principles into their opera.ons. He con.nues to oer sustainability trainings to
employees from the C-suite to the front line workers through workshops and
online trainings. ScoC is a Phi Beta Kappa who holds an MBA and an MS in
Conserva.onBiology(bothfromColoradoStateUniversity).
Moreinforma.on:www.GreenBusinessOwner.com