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Where Does All Our Stuff Go

Secondary

Description

Where Does All Our Stuff Go helps students understand that they are participants in a linear materials economy in a finite planet that cannot run indefinitely, and that there are green economy solutions they can promote.

In groups, students are first asked to discuss their usage and disposal of the stuff they own. This activity helps prepare students to consider the enlightening issues relating to our materials economy raised in a 20-minute video entitled 'The Story of Stuff'.

The teacher is asked to pre-teach the film's main ideas on the cornerstones of the consumer society: exploitation of the Earth's finite resources, production which largely uses non renewable energy and creates toxic inputs, distribution which involves keeping true costs down by exploiting labor, consumption which involves planned obsolescence and increasing levels of unhappiness and, finally, disposal which creates a more toxic planet that absorbs valuable space.

After viewing the film, a classroom discussion is encouraged on the most surprising topics that were raised. After this exercise, students are asked to share their impressions of the film on a classroom blog. Classrooms across the globe who share this web resource are invited to respond in a broader blog.

Next, students undertake a multimedia project to raise awareness about green solutions to excessive consumption and waste. Students are asked to work in groups and consider one type of product that is being highly consumed and discarded i.e. computers, plastic baga, MP3, televisions, etc.. Students are asked to devise a multimedia campaign, using PowerPoint or other online multimedia tools, that shows how to recycle or lower consumption of their chosen product.

Each group is asked to present their finished multimedia product to generate feedback. Finally, the class is encouraged to upload projects to a website and invite global partners to comment on the finished product.

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Themes Addressed

Relevant Curriculum Units