Creator: MUH-TAY-ZIK HOF-FER | visit site
Grade Range: 6 - 11
<i>Slavery Footprint</i> calculates the number of forced laborers involved in making the products we buy as consumers (such as beans in our coffee). Questions are based on the food you eat, clothes you own, and even the sports you do. There is even the option to add detail about certain commodities to allow the program to make a more precise calculation. The result gives you the exact number of slaves that "work for you" in the supply chains of your consumption. An interesting portion of the site goes into detail about the methodology used for determining the number of slaves "working" for the respondents. The site also provides their definition of a slave: "Anyone who is forced to work without pay, being economically exploited, and unable to walk away." Be sure to share the opening portion of the site, "What? Slaves work for me?" with students for a wonderful explanation of slavery and the purpose of the site. <b> Note: </b>There is one question in the survey about paying for sex. While sexual slave trade is a very real issue in today’s world, you may not want your less mature students to encounter this question. Only you know your school community’s tolerance for such discussions.
In the Classroom
Have students complete individual surveys and graph results, use the information for a basis of class discussions on economy and each individual’s impact on the environment. Complete one survey for the entire class on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) using average information found from students. Show the impact of changes in lifestyle by completing new surveys by making lifestyle changes. Have students use a tool such as Buzzsprout, <a href="/single.cfm?id=17015">reviewed here</a>, to create a fictitious radio news story from information they learn at this site. Have students use a mapping tool such as Google Earth, <a href="/single.cfm?id=10268">reviewed here</a>, to create an audio (and visual) tour of countries included on the survey.
At Home
Complete this survey, and have your student complete the survey. Compare results and discuss how results could be lowered by making changes within your household.
Tags
cross cultural understanding, ecology, slavery,
Subjects
Current Events, Economics, Family and Consumer Science, Geography (US/World), History & Culture: World, Math, Social Studies, Social Studies,