Free 11th Grade Fast Fashion Lesson Plan

Topic: consumerism and fast fashion

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to describe the concepts of consumerism and fast fashion and the impacts they have on the environment and society.

Materials

• Handouts with definitions and examples of consumerism and fast fashion
• Examples of environmental and societal impacts of consumerism and fast fashion (e.g. images of overflowing landfills, struggling garment workers, pollution from manufacturing and shipping)
• Whiteboard or chalkboard and markers

Warm-up

• Ask students to share their current knowledge of consumerism and fast fashion. What are they and what do they have in common?
• Write their answers on the board.

Direct instruction

• Introduce the concept of consumerism and its role in society. Explain that consumerism is the tendency to buy more than is needed in order to satisfy personal desires or to keep up with the latest trends and fashions.
• Explain the concept of fast fashion and its effects on the environment and workers. Explain that fast fashion refers to the trend of producing and selling clothing at a very high rate, often with little consideration for quality or sustainability.
• Show images and videos of fast fashion production to illustrate the environmental and human cost of this industry.

Guided practice

• Divide the class into small groups and assign each group one of the following topics: environmental impacts, workers rights, fashion trends.
• Have the groups research and discuss their assigned topic, asking questions as needed to clarify concepts and gather additional information.
• After about 20 minutes, bring the groups back together and have them present their findings to the class.

Independent practice

• Have students choose a specific clothing item that they frequently purchase from a fast fashion retailer, such as a t-shirt or pair of jeans.
• Have them research the materials and production processes used to make their chosen item, and then write a short report or create a presentation on the environmental and social impacts of the item’s production.

Closure

• Have students share their reports or presentations with the class.
• Discuss the implications of fast fashion on consumerism and the environment, and the importance of buying responsibly.

Assessment

• Observe students during the independent practice project and provide feedback on their understanding of the topic and their ability to conduct research and present their findings.