This video from Our Changing Climate highlights the zero-waste movement and alternative solutions to our relationship with plastics and waste.
Students will learn the benefits of going zero-waste, the structural difficulties of living a zero-waste lifestyle, and alternative solutions that are more inclusive and get closer to the source of the problem.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The video acknowledges that zero-waste lifestyles can feel unachievable for some people and offers alternative solutions.
The video takes a global perspective on our relationship with waste.
Additional Prerequisites
The video mentions food waste and composting, but the majority of the content is about plastic waste and single-use products.
The video's content ends at 5 minutes, 52 seconds.
The video begins with an advertisement.
Differentiation
Economics classes could create and execute a plan to reach out to local stores or companies to encourage them to reduce their waste.
Environmental clubs or student government groups could research options for starting a composting service in their school or community and then make a plan to fund the project.
Sociology and psychology classes could discuss the zero-waste movement and how zero-waste influencers appeal to certain demographics while excluding others.
Other resources on this topic include this activity and lesson plan on solutions for eliminating food waste, this video on living 30 days without single-use plastic, and this video on plastic pollution.
Scientist Notes
This resource video examines the zero-waste trend and highlights its true complexity. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Science
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS.ESS3.4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
Social Sciences
Economics (K-8)
7.8 Examine how economic decisions affect the well-being of individuals, businesses, and society.
8.13 Assess the function of imports, exports, innovation, and entrepreneurship in a market economy.
Economics: Global Economy (9-12)
HS.24 Explain how current globalization trends and policies affect economic growth, labor markets, labor conditions, human rights, the environment, and resource and income distribution in different nations.
Social Science Analysis (K-12)
6.27 Assess individual and collective capacities to take action to address local and regional issues, taking into account a range of possible levers of power, strategies, and potential outcomes.
HS.75 Evaluate options for individual and collective actions to address local, regional, and global problems by engaging in self-reflection, strategy identification, and complex causal reasoning.
