Consumerism

Introduction

 

WebQuest topic: Consumerism

For students to delve into the topic of consumerism, we can start the lesson with something of students’ interest.

Activity: video related to overconsumption

Materials: laptop, projector

 

Procedure:

1.Show students YouTube clip of The Lorax and Overconsumption.

2.Ask follow-up questions:

- Have students compare the two YouTube clips: Are they similar? What is the main message?

- Discuss the word “Consumption” with the class.

- Ask them to write down everything they have thrown out in the last 24 hours: what was really necessary?

- Why is this an important topic?

 

Starting the lesson this way, students will be able to get the gist of what the lesson will be about and continue performing actively now that they know the concept of consumerism and its role in their life.

Task

After identifying the consequences of their actions, they develop a clear understanding of overconsuming – buying what they don’t need just to impress people around them. They become environmentally conscious of implicit and explicit damages and feasible solutions.

With the assistance of the video and activities, students come to realize that just because they can buy something does not necessarily mean that they should. Otherwise, the world will be filled with garbage in the distant future. the mindset they develop in the classroom will make them responsible users of natural resources.

Process

 

Task 1. Watch the “Story of Stuff” (30min)

- Students will actively watch the movie with different questions in mind

- Initial Reactions from students

- students discuss questions about the video for example: - Are you shocked? How did this video make you feel?

- What images stayed in your mind?

- What did you learn? Did the film change your mind about anything?

- After the movie, students in groups of 3 or 4 discuss above questions and present their answers using photos, drawings or graphs, diagrams.  

 

 

Task 2. Read article, A Cautionary Video about America’s Stuff (20min)

- instruct students to read the article as a class

- Class discussion: encourage students to answer questions the following questions: Why has “the Story of Stuff been embraced by teachers?

- Who paid for production of the video?

- Is the film useful? How did the students feel while watching?

- Ask student’s how this could relate to Uzbekistan? Is it the same?

- Introduce individual focus of sustainability education

 

 

 
Evaluation

To evaluate student understanding, the following things are taken into account and green, yellow or red cards are distributed according to how active they are during discussions and individual tasks.

  1. Individual performance. How active students are, how they present their ideas and show respect to each other.
  2. Group presentation. Group work, collaboration, presentation skills and delivering message in a creative way
  3. Discussion. Quality of answers and effective delivery of ideas during the discussion.
Conclusion

At the end of the lesson, students will be asked what they learned during the lesson in the form of a short text. They need to put down what they find interesting, surprising and what they want to know more. A couple of questions are also asked by teacher to consolidate the lesson.

Credits

The Lorax Movie Clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_PZr1rqOR0

 

Overconsumption Clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pndik0I6pt4

 

The Story of stuff https://youtu.be/9GorqroigqM

 

A Cautionary Video About America’s ‘Stuff’, Leslie Kaufman https://www.nytimes.com/section/learning

Teacher Page

Before the lesson, it would be better for students to have a basic understanding of the concepts below:

 

1. Definition of Consumerism. Students should have a general idea about consuming habits of themselves, their society and the whole world. They should be able to distinguish essential and non-essential products as well as their needs over wants.

2. the connection between overconsumption and environment. Students should have respect for surrounding and the consequences of every purchase they make on the nature regardless of how tiny that effect is. They should also be aware that people of all ages from all over the world have a contribution to the development of consumerism.

 

Innovative designer

Students should use a variety of technology tools while discussing issues to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful or imaginative solutions. They should also be able to suggest innovative ways to generate ideas, provide measures and solve global issues.

 

Creative Communicator

Students should be able to communicate clearly and express themselves creatively utilizing online platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media which matches to their goals.

 

Global Collaborator

Students should apply digital tools and materials to broaden their knowledge and enrich their learning by collaborating with other students. They should also learn to work productively in teams first in the classroom locally and on a global scale.