AP Environmental Science Students Explore Sustainable Resource Management

Oakwood High School AP Environmental Science students recently completed a Sustainability Lab designed to illustrate how renewable resources can be managed for continuous use through systems grounded in principles of sustainability and responsible resource management. In this hands-on activity, students simulated ocean fishing to explore how sustainable yield can be determined and how overuse can lead to resource depletion.

Using chopsticks as fishing poles and colored Goldfish crackers to represent fish of different economic values, students worked in groups during two distinct phases. In the first phase, individuals attempted to maximize personal profit, which resulted in rapid depletion of the fish population in several groups. In the second phase, students collaborated to develop management plans aimed at maximizing long-term yield by maintaining fish populations at or above half of the ocean’s carrying capacity.

This simulation demonstrated the concept known as the Tragedy of the Commons, highlighting the challenges of managing shared resources. Through this engaging activity, students deepened their understanding of sustainability while learning through active participation and collaboration.