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Price Check: What is the True Cost

Author: Sonja McKay
Level: Middle School
Content Area: Environment Science, Biology
Posted March 18th, 2010 by Admin

Resources

Inspiration for the thematic unit “Price Check: What is the True Cost?”

Informative Books:

Cradle to Cradle / Remaking the Way We Make Things
By William McDonough & Michael Braungart
North Point Press, 2002
ISBN 0865475873
http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm

World Changing: A User’s Guide for the 21st Century
Edited by Alex Steffen
Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2006
ISBN 0810930951
http://www.worldchanging.com/book/
http://www.worldchanging.com/

Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic
By John de Graaf
Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2002
ISBN 1576751996

In The Global Classroom (Book One)
By Graham Pike and David Selby
Pippin Publishing, 1999
ISBN 0887510817

A Whole New Mind
By Daniel Pink
Riverhead Trade, 2006
ISBN 1594481717
http://www.danpink.com/whole-new-mind

Informative Websites:

  • Aseptic Packaging Council
    http://www.aseptic.org/default.htm
    Information about the “juice box”, a revolutionary way to transport liquids without refrigeration. Did you know that you can recycle aseptic boxes
  • Chris Jordan, Running the Numbers and Running the Numbers II
    http://www.chrisjordan.com/
    Website shows Jordan’s thought provoking art created to represent consumption in America. Running the Numbers II shows art representing global consumption. Click on the “Touring Exhibit” and “Running the Numbers II” links for art and close-ups.
  • EPA Product Stewardship
    www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/reduce/epr/products/packaging.htm
  • 21st Century Learning Goals
    http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/
    A new curriculum for the 21st century. The website states that 21st Century Learning Goals combine the “traditional 3 Rs with the essential 4 Cs (critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration and creativity and innovation).” North Carolina adopted these learning goals in 2005.

Additional Online Lessons & Curriculum:

  • The Quest for Less
    K-8 curriculum published by the EPA about reducing, reusing, and recycling.
    Download it for free at the following website:
    http://www.epa.gov/waste/education/quest/index.htm
  • Teach Engineering
    Free K-12 lesson plans that are hands-on and apply to the real world.
    http://www.teachengineering.org/index.php
    Specific Lessons of Interest:
    • “Boxed in and Wrapped Up” - Surface Area and Volume of packaging
    • “Life Cycles” - Life Cycle Assessment of a Product
    • “Product Development and the Environment” - Life Cycle Assessment
    • “It’s All in the Packaging” - Hydrapulping lab
  • Life Cycle of a CD/DVD Poster
    http://www.epa.gov/osw/education/pdfs/finalposter.pdf
    This poster published by the EPA can be downloaded for free. The back of the poster has several activities for students.
  • Facing the Future
    Free lesson samples for download. Books are also available for purchase.
    www.facingthefuture.org
  • Specific Facing the Future Lessons of Interest:
    • “Is it Sustainable” - Introduces the triple bottom-line definition of sustainability
    • “Lesson 12, Surface Area and Volume: Sustainable Design” from Real World Math: Engaging Students through Global Issues - Design innovation and sustainability. surface area and volume practice problems.
  • Specific Facing the Future Books of Interest:
    • Facing the Future: People and the Planet - It’s All Connected (Unit One: “Understanding Sustainability and Resources)
    • Real World Math: Engaging Students through Global Issues