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Convenient Consumables is a lesson that asks students to think critically about their consumer choices and everyday habits when it comes to convenience & disposables. It can be carried out as a group activity, or assigned to students individually or in partners, either online or hands-on. From little changes to big ones, consumers have a choice and make an impact!
Grade Level: 5 - 12
Time: 20 - 45 minutes
Learning Standards: ESS3.C, PS1.A, MP.4, SL1
What are we learning?
What are we learning?
This is a great activity to get participants thinking more deeply about everyday items and what it really means to throw something "away."
This activity builds reasoning, analytical, critical thinking, and problem solving skills, emphasizing what it means for something to be "convenient," often at the expense of the environment.
Students not only make their own best choice, they reflect on and express the pros & cons of each choice.
The Convenient Consumables activity is a great way to cover the solid waste crisis and reflect on individual and systemic solutions, while developing thinking and writing or presentation skills.
Materials Needed
Materials Needed
Copies of Slides for each student
Printed Hands-on Convenient Consumables PDF (linked below)
How is it done?
How is it done?
Digital Version:
Make a copy of the Slides below and give each participant a copy in Google classroom. (Or, send a copy to participants via email).
Follow directions on page 2 of the Slides: Each participant moves through the activity at their own pace, making their best choices of items on the 1st page, and then reflecting and listing the pros and cons of that item on the 2nd page.
You may also go through this activity together as a group and work on it collaboratively, or assign in small groups of students.
Hands-on Version:
Print the PDF below "Hands-on Version Convenient Consumables"
Cut out the images and prompts
We recommend laminating page 8, so it can be reused for each prompt with students using dry-erase markers.
What to expect?
What to expect?
Critical thinking & reasoning skill development
Deeper reflection about personal choices, their impacts, ecological footprints, trade-offs, and pros & cons
Systems thinking: Making cause & effect connections; developing understanding of resource use & consumption; making connections with natural resources, supply chains, waste streams, and ecological systems
Participants can share finished Google Slide and explain their reasoning and reflections on making better environmental choices.
Lesson can be further developed and expanded upon through group discussion, as well as individual or group presentations of Slides.
*Before doing the activity, you must first make a copy of the Slides and save it for yourself in order to use it or sample it.*
*Before doing the activity, you must first make a copy of the Slides and save it for yourself in order to use it or sample it.*
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