Life Cycle Assessments (LCA)
Introduce Life Cycle Assessments Introduction
Mr. Chris Jordan provides “food for thought” with staggering statistics and visual images that are beautiful and distrubing at the same time. Mr. Jordan’s art can be used as a catalysis to discuss the importance of Life Cycle Assessments, which is the evaluation of the environmental impact of goods from cradle to grave.
The below website contains some of Mr. Jordan’s art that best compliments this unit on LCA.
* You can learn more about Mr. Jordan and see a more eclectic selection of Mr. Jordan’s work at his website www.chrisjordan.com
The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard
http://thestoryofstuff.com
This 20-minute documentary presents a critical vision of the consumerist society. It purports to expose “the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world.” The documentary is divided into 7 chapters: Introduction, Extraction, Production, Distribution, Consumption, Disposal, and Another Way.
Leonard’s thesis, “you cannot run a linear system on a finite planet indefinitely” is supported throughout the documentary by statistical data. Although the video itself doesn’t give attribution to her information, an annotated script is provided on the website that helps back up some of her assertions.
This documentary has some politically charged language but is a great way to allow students to develop the skills necessary to tease opinion from fact.
Once students watch the documentry, they select three or more “surprising” facts that were presented to investigate further and then write a letter to MS. Leonard, where they present, with refernces, their findings.
The Environmental Protection Agency
FREE – LCA poster
- Life Cycle of a Cell Phone
- Life Cycle of DVDs/ CDs
- Life Cycle of Soccer Balls
Climate Change – Kids Stuff
- Includes a Climate Calculator
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