Students frequently go to the mall or store to purchase consumer goods, and rarely do they consider how these goods wound up in the stores where they make their purchases. This is an interesting topic for students to explore because it teaches them about where goods come from, and it allows students to explore two sides of the debate about ethical consumerism. For this lesson, students will engage in an inquiry to explore both sides of the debate. Then they will participate in a seminar where they discuss the issues applying critical thinking and good communication skills.
1. Norberg, Johan (June 7, 2003). The Noble Feat of Nike. The Spectator. http://www.johannorberg.net/?page=articles&articleid=53 Accessed Online: 2/26/2014.2.
2. Blumgart, J. (March 21, 2013). Sweatshops Still Make Your Clothes. Printed on Salon.com. Online Access: http://www.salon.com/2013/03/21/sweatshops_still_make_your_clothes/
Potential Optional Sources:
- Grade level: 7th grade social studies
- Learning goals or objectives:
- Students will develop a deeper understanding of the ethical conflict surrounding sweatshop labor and consumer demand
- Students will develop questions to guide their inquiry process.
- Students will read and analyze a variety of sources that present both sides of the ethical debate
- Students will make ethical judgements based on their inquiry
- Students will engage in thoughtful and critical discussion about sweatshop labor and consumer demand issues
- Inquiry Process for students:
- Hand out an inquiry chart (I-chart) similar to the one attached. On the back of their I-chart, students respond to the question "What is a sweatshop?". Debrief and introduce the lesson's topic.
- Have students think-pair-share inquiry questions. Teacher records on the board the questions students generate and share with the class.
- Students record four inquiry questions on their charts. The questions can be ones recorded on the board or they can be new ones that the student think of individually.
- Students read two sources provided to them by the teacher and one source of their choice. As students read, they record answers to their inquiry questions, new interesting facts, and any new questions they may think of.
- Students record a brief summary of their inquiry results and conclusions on the I-chart.
- HW: Students complete any unfinished class work
- Teacher provides brief overview of seminar discussion topic and reminders of respectful communication.
- Students engage in a seminar discussion about the ethics of using sweatshop labor and meeting consumer demand
- Students provide a ticket out the door with at least three questions, summarizing points, or reflections about what they learned or did not understand.
- Student Inquiry Sources:
1. Norberg, Johan (June 7, 2003). The Noble Feat of Nike. The Spectator. http://www.johannorberg.net/?page=articles&articleid=53 Accessed Online: 2/26/2014.2.
2. Blumgart, J. (March 21, 2013). Sweatshops Still Make Your Clothes. Printed on Salon.com. Online Access: http://www.salon.com/2013/03/21/sweatshops_still_make_your_clothes/
Potential Optional Sources:
- Sweatshops: Necessary Evil? TruTube Video: https://www.truetube.co.uk/film/sweatshops-necessary-evil
- Two Faces of Economic Development: The Ethical Controversy Surrounding US-Related Sweatshops in Developing Asian Countries by Annabelle Wong. http://www.globalethicsnetwork.org/profiles/blogs/two-faces-of-economic-development-the-ethical-controversy
- Baker, Linda (December 14, 2003). The Goal: 'Sweatshop Free'. The Problem: Defining it. GlobalExchange.org. www.globalexchange.org/print/14271.
- 1. Daily Mail Reporter (July 13, 2011). Nike workers 'kicked, slapped and verbally abused' at factories making Converse. Mail Online. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2014325/Nike-workers-kicked-slapped-verbally-abused-factories-making-Converse-line-Indonesia.html.
- Nisen, Max (May 9, 2013). How Nike Solved its Sweatshop Problem. BusinessInsider.com. http://www.businessinsider.com/how-nike-solved-its-sweatshop-problem-2013-5.
- Atal, Maha Rafi (April 29, 2013). The Bangladesh Factory Tragedy and the Moralists of Sweatshop Economics. The Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/apr/29/bangladesh-factory-tragedy-sweatshop-economics.
- Kristof, N.D. & WuDunn, S. (Sept. 24, 2000). Two Cheers for Sweatshops. Printed in the New York Times. Online Access: http://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/24/magazine/two-cheers-for-sweatshops.html?pagewanted=print.
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