What’s the true cost of the things we buy?
Grade
9-12
Subjects
ELA, Social Studies
Key Content
economics, production, consumption, sustainability, research, informational writing
Students take on the role of investigative reporters, researching the origin of various everyday products/popular brand-name items. They follow a product from the extraction of raw resources all the way to the consumer to uncover the political, environmental, economic, and social impacts of the item’s manufacture and distribution. Teams compile their research into a magazine article for an audience of potential consumers of those products then engage in a panel discussion of their findings and potential solutions to help promote sustainable production now and in the future.