Year 9 Outdoor Ed | Week 10

Minimal Impact & Sustainability

The Lorax by Dr Seuss
Good morning Year 9’s, last week we started our new topic of
Minimal Impact and Sustainability with the Parks Vic worksheets
(the word search and spot the difference ones). Today you will be
watching the 1972 version of “The Lorax”. This version is only a
short one but is much more like the book than the 2012 one.

Before you watch the video you need to fill out the questions on this
page first. You can use your iPads to find some results. (The movie
won’t start until it is all done… properly!) As the movie plays you
will need to work through the rest of the questions. Any questions
not answered during the class is for homework.

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V06ZOQuo0k

1. Define the term Minimal Impact

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2. Identify 3 ways you can have minimal impact when camping or being in the outdoors?
a. ______________________________________________________
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b. ______________________________________________________
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c. ______________________________________________________
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3. Define the term Sustainability

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4. What does “social responsibility” mean? (not the business version you find on google)

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Answer the following questions as the movie goes on….

When the Lorax first appears to speak on behalf of the tress, the Once-ler claims he is doing no
harm by cutting down Truffula Trees to make Thneeds.

1. Was it harmful when the Once-ler cut

down the first tree? If so, who, or what
did it harm?

2. Is it harmful to cut down just one tree?

3. Why do the Lorax and the Once-ler

disagree on this? Who do you agree
with?

4. The Lorax claims that it was harmful for the Once-ler to cut down the tree. Are trees the
kinds of things that can be harmed? Can anything not be harmed?

The Lorax also tries to speak for the Brown Bar-ba-loots, the Swomee Swans, and the Humming
Fish. The Once-ler ignores the Lorax and continues quickly expanding his business, cutting down
more and more trees at a faster and faster clip...
5. The Once-ler's business making and selling Thneeds is very successful. Is the Once-ler's
success a good thing? Why or why not? What might make it good? What might make it bad?

6. Now that the Once-ler is cutting down lots of trees, is this harmful? Why is cutting down one
tree ok, but cutting down many trees harmful?

7. What happens to the Brown Bar-ba-loots, Swomee-Swans and Humming Fish? What
happened to their habitats? Why doesn't the Once-ler care about what is happening around
him?
 8. How are the problems for the Bar-ba-loots, Swomee-Swans, and Humming Fish all related to
the Once-ler cutting down Truffula Trees? Can the same thing happen in real life?

When the Once-ler realizes what has happened, it seems like it is already too late
9. What happens to the Once-ler's factory once all
the Truffula Trees are gone?

10. What is the world around the factory like?

Describe the details. Is this a nice place to be?

11. Do you think that there could have been a way for the Once-ler to make Thneeds, without
causing harm? Why or why not?

Once the Lorax leaves, and the Once-ler is alone, he discovers a message on a pile of small stones.
12. Why does the Lorax leave the word "UNLESS" on a pile of rocks? What does "unless" mean?

13. The Once-ler says that he didn't mean to cause the harm he caused. Does not meaning to
cause harm make you less responsible? How do you take responsibility for the things you
have harmed?

14. Do you think that if we take the seed and follow the Once-ler's new advice that the Lorax
and his friends will come back?

15. In the beginning of the story, the Once-ler claims that everyone needs Thneeds, but at the
end he claims that what everyone really needs is Truffula trees. Why does he change his
mind?

16. Throughout the entire movie, you never get to see the Once-ler’s face? Why do you think
this is? Who could the Once-ler be?
Answers:
Minimal Impact – Minimal Impact (MI) is a code of practice for users of natural areas designed to
maintain the ecological and intrinsic values (i.e. scenic amenity, cultural heritage and water
catchment) of natural settings for outdoor recreation.

Sustainability –
1. the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level
2. Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance

or

Sustainable Development - Sustainability or sustainable development is development that meets

the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.

Social Responsibility - Being socially responsible means acknowledging and remaining accountable

for the impact of one's choices on the larger world.