Big Idea
Are some resources unlimited?
Summary
We will continue to explore the idea that everything we use comes from somewhere and goes somewhere when we no longer need or want it. The source of the objects we use everyday originally come from nature. Are these sources unlimited?
Engage
Ask students to review the list of people-made objects from the list of items they made in the previous Learning Experience.
Discuss what a life cycle is and ask if they think objects have life cycles
Choose a few objects and ask them to hypothesize what they think the life cycle of each one is, including where the materials for the product originally come from. Share.
Using the video links, explore the life cycle of a T-shirt, Potato Chip, and Paper.
Do they all come from nature originally? (Yes!)
Explore and Explain
Review the life cycle activity and discuss.
Think pair share: What other life cycles of objects are you curious about?
Discuss: Do humans depend on natural resources for everything they/we use everyday?
Describe the human dependence on the food (potato chip) and fiber (t-shirt) systems from production to consumption and ask them if they think it is important for everyone to understand that we are dependent on natural resources for everything we use every day for our survival, our stuff, our food, our health, our homes and our quality of life.
Have students write a short opinion piece using the following prompt:
Is it important for all of us to protect, preserve and not waste the natural resources we depend on?
Elaborate
Conduct a Socratic Seminar to examine the following question:
Tips are in Materials list and also linked here:
Can we continue to make, move and use products indefinitely the same way as we do now?
For 10 minutes, ask students to review their opinion piece and notes from the past few days about the life cycle of objects such as the t-shirt, potato chip and paper to prepare. If you want to extend the prep time, encourage them to do more research to find other “life cycle of objects” examples
For 20 minutes, conduct the Socratic seminar
Teacher Support
Essential Question:
Are some resources unlimited?
Guiding Questions:
Where do all these materials/objects made by people come from?
Where do they all go after we no longer need or want these materials?
Students will be able to:
Identify the resources that are used to create many of the objects we use today.
Describe the dependence on the food and fiber systems needed to sustain the production of everyday objects.
(Links to materials needed)
Links to How-to Resources for the Socratic Seminar:
Socrates Seminar Video: Shows students participating in a Socratic Seminar on the Weimar Republic
Socrates Seminar Questions; Guide on developing opening, guiding and closing questions
Socrates Seminar Guide : A Strategy Guide that explains Socratic Seminars and Practical methods for applying the approach in your classroom
Optional additional resources :
Impact (verb) have a strong effect or influence on someone or something
Cycle (noun) a series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order.
Harvest (noun) the process or period of gathering crops
Mill (verb) grind or crush (something) in a mill
Waste (noun) material that is not wanted; the unusable remains or byproducts of something
Condition (noun) the state of something with regard to its appearance, quality, or working order
Garment (noun) an item of clothing
Production (noun) the action of making or manufacturing from components or raw materials
Consume (verb) use up (a resource)
Participation in the class discussion related to the materials cycle
PA STEELS Standards
Environmental Literacy and Sustainability
3.4.3-5.B Agricultural and Environmental Systems and Resources: Make a claim about the environmental and social impacts of design solutions and civic actions, including their own actions.
3.4.3-5.F Sustainability and Stewardship: Critique ways that people depend on and change the environment.
Related Standards
NGSS 4-ESS3-1 Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and their uses