Economics and Greenwashing Interactive Game
Games
30 minutesGrades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Social Studies, English Language Arts
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Written by Meighan Hooper
About this activity
- This interactive game allows students to learn what type of shopper they are by watching a number of advertisements and deciding if they would purchase the products or not.
- The game introduces the idea of greenwashing and being mindful of the environmental and social effects of economic decisions.
Everything you need to teach it
- Economics and Greenwashing Interactive Game Preview
Teaching tips
Suggestions
- This is a fun way to engage students in a critical thinking exercise while addressing media literacy.
- There are no winners or losers, just descriptions of each shopper type and shopping tips.
Prerequisites
- Students will need access to a device and an Internet connection.
- There are ten advertisements in the game, ranging from 30 seconds to over 3 minutes, that promote many different products or services.
Differentiation
- Younger students may need to watch the clips twice or read through all of the answers before watching the clips to help them make their choices.
- Social studies classes could use this resource when discussing economics, supply and demand, globalization, or regulations for businesses.
- Advanced students could think about the role of regulatory bodies in ensuring businesses follow social and environmental guidelines and regulations.
- Other resources on this topic include this TED video about sustainable economics, this Khan Academy video about the tragedy of the commons, and this video by Auburn University about a sustainable future.
From the scientist review
This game explores four kinds of shopping skills (methodical, spontaneous, humanistic, and competitive). It can equip students on the best approach or behavior in shopping and consuming products that are environmentally friendly. This game has been peer-reviewed, and it is recommended.
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About the teacher writer
Meighan Hooper
Chief Operating Officer
Meighan Hooper, B.Ed., is SubjectToClimate's Chief Operating Officer. She holds an H.B.A. from the University of Toronto and a B.Ed. from Queen's University, and is an Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT) with 14 years of classroom teaching experience across Canada, Bahrain, Qatar, and China. She began at SubjectToClimate as Director of User Engagement before moving into the CMO and then COO roles. Fun fact: she helped launch the SubjectToClimate website.
