Media Literacy: Consumer Awareness Lesson - Clothing Waste

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Total Pages: 42 pages
Answer Key: Included with rubric
Teaching Duration: 1 Week
File Size: 1 MB
File Type: PDF

Media Literacy & Consumer Awareness: Clothing Waste Lesson

Help your students develop a deeper understanding of media literacy and consumer awareness with this engaging and thought-provoking lesson on clothing waste. Students will explore what happens to clothes once they are no longer wanted, uncovering the different paths discarded clothing can take - donation, resale, landfill, incineration, or export to developing nations.

Perfect for digital literacy or geography lessons focused on sustainability, this resource encourages critical thinking, environmental awareness, and responsible consumer habits.

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Lesson Outline

1. Introduction to Consumer Awareness
2. Clothing Waste Questions and Graphic Organizer
3. Journal Entry Assessment (2 Options)
4. Clothing Waste Quiz
5. Extend Your Learning Related Articles and Graphic Organizers
6. Take Action Project (Waste Reduction Awareness Campaign)

What’s Included?

✅ Detailed Teacher Lesson Plan – Easy-to-follow instructions for seamless implementation
✅ Graphic Organizers – Support student understanding and reflection
✅ Video Comprehension Questions – Reinforce key concepts with engaging media
✅ Journal Prompts – Encourage deep thinking and personal connections
✅ Clothing Waste Quiz – Assess understanding in a meaningful way
✅ Extend Your Learning – Related articles for further exploration
✅ Take Action Project – A hands-on, student-driven Waste Reduction Awareness Campaign
✅ Assessment Options – Choose from levels or points-based grading
✅ Print & Digital Formats – Flexible for in-person or remote learning

Why Teachers Love This Resource

• Relevant & Engaging – Students are part of the fast fashion generation and will immediately connect with the topic.
• Encourages Critical Thinking – This lesson challenges students to question consumer habits and consider sustainable alternatives.
• Real-World Application – Helps students understand the impact of their choices and empowers them to take action.
• Cross-Curricular Connections – Fits seamlessly into media literacy, geography, social studies, and environmental science units.
• Flexible & Easy to Use – Includes printable and digital versions, detailed lesson plans, and multiple assessment options.

This Resource Is Perfect For:

✔️ Middle school media literacy and digital literacy lessons
✔️ Geography curriculum focused on sustainability (e.g., Ontario Grade 8 Geography Strand A)
✔️ Social studies, environmental science, and consumer awareness units
✔️ Engaging cross-curricular discussions on fast fashion, waste, and sustainability

Teacher Feedback

1. “I wanted a media unit that my students could relate to. Since most of them are part of the "fast fashion" generation, I thought this would be a good fit. The lessons have been a great foundation to my media unit. Students have been engaged and interested along the way.”
2. “A huge eye-opener for students.  They were highly engaged and asked to do another unit!”
3. “I purchased this unit as an add-on the grade 6 social studies unit. This was such a great connection to the real world and provided a lot of opportunities to think critically about consumer awareness. I highly recommend this product!”

Save Money - Buy The Bundle

Buy this Media Literacy Lesson Bundle 1 to get 11 different media literacy/consumer awareness lessons. Save your prep time and money when you buy the bundle.

Resource Notes

• Regular reliable internet access is required for this resource
• This resource is a non-editable PDF