This video describes the environmental effects of sneaker manufacturing, synthetic materials used in these shoes, unfair labor practices, and harmful chemicals used to produce them.
The resource includes multiple-choice questions, discussion questions, and additional resources on the topic.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This animated video uses effective visuals to explain concepts such as manufacturing and fossil fuel extraction.
The video ends with the proposal of a few key solutions to increase the sustainability of sneaker production, such as supporting producers using clean energy and using eco-friendly materials in manufacturing.
Additional Prerequisites
Teachers and students must create a free account to answer the questions in the Think section or comment in the Discuss section.
The links to the Global Fashion Agenda in the Dig Deeper section do not work.
Differentiation
Sneakers and clothing are often high-interest topics for students. Teachers can make the most of students' interests by assigning additional exploration and research activities as a follow-up to this video. Students could research where and how their favorite brands of sneakers are manufactured.
The Dig Deeper section links to several helpful resources on sneaker and clothing manufacturing. Teachers could select articles from the Dig Deeper section for students to read and discuss in small groups.
Teachers may want to focus on solutions rather than consumer guilt when approaching this topic. Students can generate action steps, such as writing to sneaker brands to voice their concerns or pledging to keep their sneakers in good condition so they last longer.
Economics classes could use this video to connect globalization, consumerism, development, and carbon emissions.
Other resources on this topic include this video on making clothing more sustainable and ethical and this TED-Ed lesson on the life cycle of a t-shirt.
Scientist Notes
The products we buy every day have many hidden costs that we don't consider. One such example is the cost of carbon emissions. This TED-Ed video dives into the process of manufacturing sneakers to look at the carbon cost. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Science and Engineering
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
4-ESS3-1 Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and their uses affect the environment.
MS-ESS3-4 Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth’s systems.
HS-ESS3-4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
Social Studies
Personal Finance & Economics
Personal Finance: Students understand the nature of personal finance as well as key foundational ideas by describing situations in which personal choices are related to the use of money.
Personal Finance (F1): Students understand the principles and processes of personal finance by explaining how scarcity influences choices and relates to the market economy.
Global Connections (F2): Students understand economic aspects of unity and diversity in Maine, the United States, and the world, including Maine Native American communities, by analyzing how resource distribution effects wealth, poverty, and other economic factors.
