• This TED-Ed video compares paper, plastic, and cloth bags to determine which one is the best for the environment. 
• Students will learn that the environmental impact of an object, like a bag, is determined by how an object is produced, if it can be reused (and for how long), if it can be recycled, and if it is biodegradable. 

Positives

• This video will inspire students to consider all of the environmental factors that go into choosing the right shopping bag.
• The colorful animations will keep students engaged.

Additional Prerequisites

• The link labeled "landfills" in the Dig Deeper section is broken.
• Teachers must create a free account to use the interactive Think and Discuss sections.
  

Differentiation

• Before watching the video, teachers could ask students which type of bag they think is best for the environment and why. After the video, students could discuss the following questions:
  • Did the video make you think differently about the environmental impact of shopping bags? Why?
  • Will you change your habits as a consumer?
  • Do you think the information in the video would influence people's buying habits? Why or why not?
  • How can mindful consumers help fight climate change?
• Civics classes could discuss laws that ban stores from providing single-use plastic bags to customers.
• Other resources on this topic include this activity for building a reusable bag stand, this video on plastic pollution, and this video on the environmental impact of manufacturing a pair of jeans.
  

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.