Story+of+Stuff


 * < ======This page is a place for teachers to store and explore uses of the Story of Stuff website and video. Teachers may add lesson plans, student activity sheets, student results (minus names, please) and, of course, ways in which students have conducted inquiry-based activism in relation to issues of this video. Don't forget to also check out the SoS site. ======

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The Story of Stuff has many messages or 'warnings' that are, essentially, about excessive consumerism. Annie Leonard, the host and main impetus behind the site and video, describes - with ongoing animations behind her as she talks - WISE issues relating to: resource extraction, and the production, distribution, consumption, and disposal of for-profit goods and services. The beauty of this video is its simplicity, particularly through the use of the animations, while delivering some very crucial issues. Among her points are three key aspects of 'distribution' and marketing: ======  ||< media type="youtube" key="gLBE5QAYXp8" height="344" width="425" ||
 * __Externalization__; e.g., keeping prices low, and profits high, by getting others to pay for products and disposal costs.
 * __Perceived Obsolescence__; e.g., branding to convince people to replace goods and services with new and better ones.
 * __Planned Obsolescence__; e.g., engineering products/services to break down after a set time-period.

Instructional Approaches
Terry Wilkinson developed the following lesson plan for her Grade 7 Science and Technology classes as a way to introduce the environmental and social justice issues connected with "bad design." Tanya Williamson, who was teaching Grade 10 Science (Applied level), used the lesson plan and two pre- and post-activity sheets:
 * Pre- and Post-test and Response Sheet**
 * [[file:Lesson Plan for The Story of Stuff.doc]]
 * [[file:TanyaW_StoryOfStuff_Pre-PostQs.doc]].
 * [[file:TanyaW_StoryOfStuff_Qs.doc]].

Comments/Suggestions for using the lesson plan and activity sheets in your teaching situation: