The Story of Stuff

An Integrated Unit Plan for Grade 7 and Grade 8

Garett Mathiason

At a Glance

Grade: Seven/Eight

Required Areas of Study:

• English Language Arts (ELA)
• Social Studies
• Science
• Health Education

BIG Ideas:

• Resources are finite
• There is an imbalance of resource distribution on Earth
• How can we sustain our resources for another generation?
• Do we have to be socially responsible to live sustainably?
• Where does the stuff that we use in Canada come from and what is its impact on the world?
• How does access to resources and wealth affect interactions between people and cultures?

Key Outcomes/Indicators:

Science

EC 7.2 Identify locations and processes used to extract Earth’s geological resources and examine the impacts of those locations and processes on society and the environment.

Health Education

USC 8.6 Examine and assess the concept of sustainability from many perspectives, and develop an understanding of its implications for the well-being of self, others, and the environment.

English Language Arts

CR 7.1/CR 8.1 View, listen to, read, comprehend, and respond to a variety of texts that address social responsibility.

CC 7.1/CC 8.1 Create various visual, oral, written, and multimedia (including digital) texts that explore social responsibility.

Social Studies

RW 8.2 Assess the implications of personal consumer choices.

Framework