Project Description
Grade range: 7 to 12. The project is also great for extracurricular groups such as Girl Guides, environmental clubs, and other community groups.
Time considerations: 3 to 4 hours per module + time for student-led actions
Materials provided: Digital/printable resources. Crests are available for community groups only.
Materials needed: Actions are designed to use commonly available supplies (sewing tools, access to a sink, old clothes, etc.). The resource list is searchable by the number of materials needed.
- Explore the impact of greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of water usage and water pollution throughout our clothing system.
- Learn how to create positive changes through thoughtful actions and creative, sustainable, informed decision-making.
What will students experience?
- Explore the impact of greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of water usage and water pollution throughout our clothing system.
- Learn how to create positive changes through thoughtful actions and creative, sustainable, informed decision-making.
- Curriculum-aligned science unit for educators across the country. In addition to science courses, this project connects to learning outcomes in Geography, History, Language Arts, Social Sciences, Family Studies and Civics.
- Free to participate.
- Project-based learning experience that can be completed with a whole class or as an independent project.
- Six ready-made lessons; three for the Climate Change module and three for the Water Systems module.
Why Participate?
- Curriculum-aligned science unit for educators across the country. In addition to science courses, this project connects to learning outcomes in Geography, History, Language Arts, Social Sciences, Family Studies and Civics.
- Free to participate.
- Project-based learning experience that can be completed with a whole class or as an independent project.
- Six ready-made lessons; three for the Climate Change module and three for the Water Systems module.
- Be able to explain how clothing production, use, and disposal contribute to climate change and water pollution by understanding the carbon cycle, material sources, clothing life cycles, and microplastic pollution.
- Be able to design, implement, and reflect on personal actions that reduce the environmental impacts of clothing, demonstrating understanding of how these actions support healthier water systems and ecosystems.
Learning Goals
- Be able to explain how clothing production, use, and disposal contribute to climate change and water pollution by understanding the carbon cycle, material sources, clothing life cycles, and microplastic pollution.
- Be able to design, implement, and reflect on personal actions that reduce the environmental impacts of clothing, demonstrating understanding of how these actions support healthier water systems and ecosystems.
- Youth Website (no registration required) and Actions Showcase page.
Resources
- Youth Website (no registration required) and Actions Showcase page.
- Explore the impact of greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of water usage and water pollution throughout our clothing system.
- Learn how to create positive changes through thoughtful actions and creative, sustainable, informed decision-making.
What will students experience?
- Explore the impact of greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of water usage and water pollution throughout our clothing system.
- Learn how to create positive changes through thoughtful actions and creative, sustainable, informed decision-making.
- Curriculum-aligned science unit for educators across the country. In addition to science courses, this project connects to learning outcomes in Geography, History, Language Arts, Social Sciences, Family Studies and Civics.
- Free to participate.
- Project-based learning experience that can be completed with a whole class or as an independent project.
- Six ready-made lessons; three for the Climate Change module and three for the Water Systems module.
Why Participate?
- Curriculum-aligned science unit for educators across the country. In addition to science courses, this project connects to learning outcomes in Geography, History, Language Arts, Social Sciences, Family Studies and Civics.
- Free to participate.
- Project-based learning experience that can be completed with a whole class or as an independent project.
- Six ready-made lessons; three for the Climate Change module and three for the Water Systems module.
- Be able to explain how clothing production, use, and disposal contribute to climate change and water pollution by understanding the carbon cycle, material sources, clothing life cycles, and microplastic pollution.
- Be able to design, implement, and reflect on personal actions that reduce the environmental impacts of clothing, demonstrating understanding of how these actions support healthier water systems and ecosystems.
Learning Goals
- Be able to explain how clothing production, use, and disposal contribute to climate change and water pollution by understanding the carbon cycle, material sources, clothing life cycles, and microplastic pollution.
- Be able to design, implement, and reflect on personal actions that reduce the environmental impacts of clothing, demonstrating understanding of how these actions support healthier water systems and ecosystems.
- Youth Website (no registration required) and Actions Showcase page.
Resources
- Youth Website (no registration required) and Actions Showcase page.
- Students will be able to identify carbon sources and sinks. They will be able to explain how human activities (including our clothing system) lead to a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students will start to implement their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 1 – The Carbon Cycle
- Students will be able to identify carbon sources and sinks. They will be able to explain how human activities (including our clothing system) lead to a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students will start to implement their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will understand the different types of materials that clothing is made from. They will research the environmental impacts of a specific type of material and will continue to work on their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 2 – What Clothes are Made of
- Students will understand the different types of materials that clothing is made from. They will research the environmental impacts of a specific type of material and will continue to work on their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to recognize the stages involved in the life cycle of clothing. They will be able to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions connected to one cotton t-shirt. Students will give and receive feedback on each other's actions and artifacts.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 3 – The Life Cycle of Clothing
- Students will be able to recognize the stages involved in the life cycle of clothing. They will be able to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions connected to one cotton t-shirt. Students will give and receive feedback on each other's actions and artifacts.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to explain how the clothing industry and our clothing choices lead to water pollution and will be able to identify how they can take action to reduce water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 1 – How does Clothing Impact Water Systems?
- Students will be able to explain how the clothing industry and our clothing choices lead to water pollution and will be able to identify how they can take action to reduce water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to explain how water pollution (specifically from clothing) impacts aquatic ecosystems and will identify how their action reduces the impacts of water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 2 – Ecosystem Impacts
- Students will be able to explain how water pollution (specifically from clothing) impacts aquatic ecosystems and will identify how their action reduces the impacts of water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to define microplastics and explain how they impact ecosystems and will be able to take action to reduce human impacts on water systems.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 3 – All About Microplastics
- Students will be able to define microplastics and explain how they impact ecosystems and will be able to take action to reduce human impacts on water systems.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to identify carbon sources and sinks. They will be able to explain how human activities (including our clothing system) lead to a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students will start to implement their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 1 – The Carbon Cycle
- Students will be able to identify carbon sources and sinks. They will be able to explain how human activities (including our clothing system) lead to a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students will start to implement their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will understand the different types of materials that clothing is made from. They will research the environmental impacts of a specific type of material and will continue to work on their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 2 – What Clothes are Made of
- Students will understand the different types of materials that clothing is made from. They will research the environmental impacts of a specific type of material and will continue to work on their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to recognize the stages involved in the life cycle of clothing. They will be able to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions connected to one cotton t-shirt. Students will give and receive feedback on each other's actions and artifacts.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 3 – The Life Cycle of Clothing
- Students will be able to recognize the stages involved in the life cycle of clothing. They will be able to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions connected to one cotton t-shirt. Students will give and receive feedback on each other's actions and artifacts.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to explain how the clothing industry and our clothing choices lead to water pollution and will be able to identify how they can take action to reduce water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 1 – How does Clothing Impact Water Systems?
- Students will be able to explain how the clothing industry and our clothing choices lead to water pollution and will be able to identify how they can take action to reduce water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to explain how water pollution (specifically from clothing) impacts aquatic ecosystems and will identify how their action reduces the impacts of water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 2 – Ecosystem Impacts
- Students will be able to explain how water pollution (specifically from clothing) impacts aquatic ecosystems and will identify how their action reduces the impacts of water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to define microplastics and explain how they impact ecosystems and will be able to take action to reduce human impacts on water systems.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 3 – All About Microplastics
- Students will be able to define microplastics and explain how they impact ecosystems and will be able to take action to reduce human impacts on water systems.
Timing: 1 hour
Lesson Outlines
- Students will be able to identify carbon sources and sinks. They will be able to explain how human activities (including our clothing system) lead to a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students will start to implement their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 1 – The Carbon Cycle
- Students will be able to identify carbon sources and sinks. They will be able to explain how human activities (including our clothing system) lead to a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students will start to implement their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will understand the different types of materials that clothing is made from. They will research the environmental impacts of a specific type of material and will continue to work on their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 2 – What Clothes are Made of
- Students will understand the different types of materials that clothing is made from. They will research the environmental impacts of a specific type of material and will continue to work on their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to recognize the stages involved in the life cycle of clothing. They will be able to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions connected to one cotton t-shirt. Students will give and receive feedback on each other's actions and artifacts.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 3 – The Life Cycle of Clothing
- Students will be able to recognize the stages involved in the life cycle of clothing. They will be able to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions connected to one cotton t-shirt. Students will give and receive feedback on each other's actions and artifacts.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to explain how the clothing industry and our clothing choices lead to water pollution and will be able to identify how they can take action to reduce water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 1 – How does Clothing Impact Water Systems?
- Students will be able to explain how the clothing industry and our clothing choices lead to water pollution and will be able to identify how they can take action to reduce water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to explain how water pollution (specifically from clothing) impacts aquatic ecosystems and will identify how their action reduces the impacts of water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 2 – Ecosystem Impacts
- Students will be able to explain how water pollution (specifically from clothing) impacts aquatic ecosystems and will identify how their action reduces the impacts of water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to define microplastics and explain how they impact ecosystems and will be able to take action to reduce human impacts on water systems.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 3 – All About Microplastics
- Students will be able to define microplastics and explain how they impact ecosystems and will be able to take action to reduce human impacts on water systems.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to identify carbon sources and sinks. They will be able to explain how human activities (including our clothing system) lead to a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students will start to implement their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 1 – The Carbon Cycle
- Students will be able to identify carbon sources and sinks. They will be able to explain how human activities (including our clothing system) lead to a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students will start to implement their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will understand the different types of materials that clothing is made from. They will research the environmental impacts of a specific type of material and will continue to work on their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 2 – What Clothes are Made of
- Students will understand the different types of materials that clothing is made from. They will research the environmental impacts of a specific type of material and will continue to work on their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to recognize the stages involved in the life cycle of clothing. They will be able to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions connected to one cotton t-shirt. Students will give and receive feedback on each other's actions and artifacts.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 3 – The Life Cycle of Clothing
- Students will be able to recognize the stages involved in the life cycle of clothing. They will be able to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions connected to one cotton t-shirt. Students will give and receive feedback on each other's actions and artifacts.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to explain how the clothing industry and our clothing choices lead to water pollution and will be able to identify how they can take action to reduce water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 1 – How does Clothing Impact Water Systems?
- Students will be able to explain how the clothing industry and our clothing choices lead to water pollution and will be able to identify how they can take action to reduce water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to explain how water pollution (specifically from clothing) impacts aquatic ecosystems and will identify how their action reduces the impacts of water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 2 – Ecosystem Impacts
- Students will be able to explain how water pollution (specifically from clothing) impacts aquatic ecosystems and will identify how their action reduces the impacts of water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to define microplastics and explain how they impact ecosystems and will be able to take action to reduce human impacts on water systems.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 3 – All About Microplastics
- Students will be able to define microplastics and explain how they impact ecosystems and will be able to take action to reduce human impacts on water systems.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to identify carbon sources and sinks. They will be able to explain how human activities (including our clothing system) lead to a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students will start to implement their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 1 – The Carbon Cycle
- Students will be able to identify carbon sources and sinks. They will be able to explain how human activities (including our clothing system) lead to a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students will start to implement their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will understand the different types of materials that clothing is made from. They will research the environmental impacts of a specific type of material and will continue to work on their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 2 – What Clothes are Made of
- Students will understand the different types of materials that clothing is made from. They will research the environmental impacts of a specific type of material and will continue to work on their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to recognize the stages involved in the life cycle of clothing. They will be able to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions connected to one cotton t-shirt. Students will give and receive feedback on each other's actions and artifacts.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 3 – The Life Cycle of Clothing
- Students will be able to recognize the stages involved in the life cycle of clothing. They will be able to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions connected to one cotton t-shirt. Students will give and receive feedback on each other's actions and artifacts.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to explain how the clothing industry and our clothing choices lead to water pollution and will be able to identify how they can take action to reduce water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 1 – How does Clothing Impact Water Systems?
- Students will be able to explain how the clothing industry and our clothing choices lead to water pollution and will be able to identify how they can take action to reduce water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to explain how water pollution (specifically from clothing) impacts aquatic ecosystems and will identify how their action reduces the impacts of water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 2 – Ecosystem Impacts
- Students will be able to explain how water pollution (specifically from clothing) impacts aquatic ecosystems and will identify how their action reduces the impacts of water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to define microplastics and explain how they impact ecosystems and will be able to take action to reduce human impacts on water systems.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 3 – All About Microplastics
- Students will be able to define microplastics and explain how they impact ecosystems and will be able to take action to reduce human impacts on water systems.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to identify carbon sources and sinks. They will be able to explain how human activities (including our clothing system) lead to a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students will start to implement their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 1 – The Carbon Cycle
- Students will be able to identify carbon sources and sinks. They will be able to explain how human activities (including our clothing system) lead to a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students will start to implement their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will understand the different types of materials that clothing is made from. They will research the environmental impacts of a specific type of material and will continue to work on their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 2 – What Clothes are Made of
- Students will understand the different types of materials that clothing is made from. They will research the environmental impacts of a specific type of material and will continue to work on their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to recognize the stages involved in the life cycle of clothing. They will be able to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions connected to one cotton t-shirt. Students will give and receive feedback on each other's actions and artifacts.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 3 – The Life Cycle of Clothing
- Students will be able to recognize the stages involved in the life cycle of clothing. They will be able to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions connected to one cotton t-shirt. Students will give and receive feedback on each other's actions and artifacts.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to explain how the clothing industry and our clothing choices lead to water pollution and will be able to identify how they can take action to reduce water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 1 – How does Clothing Impact Water Systems?
- Students will be able to explain how the clothing industry and our clothing choices lead to water pollution and will be able to identify how they can take action to reduce water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to explain how water pollution (specifically from clothing) impacts aquatic ecosystems and will identify how their action reduces the impacts of water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 2 – Ecosystem Impacts
- Students will be able to explain how water pollution (specifically from clothing) impacts aquatic ecosystems and will identify how their action reduces the impacts of water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to define microplastics and explain how they impact ecosystems and will be able to take action to reduce human impacts on water systems.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 3 – All About Microplastics
- Students will be able to define microplastics and explain how they impact ecosystems and will be able to take action to reduce human impacts on water systems.
Timing: 1 hour
Lesson Outlines
- Students will be able to identify carbon sources and sinks. They will be able to explain how human activities (including our clothing system) lead to a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students will start to implement their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 1 – The Carbon Cycle
- Students will be able to identify carbon sources and sinks. They will be able to explain how human activities (including our clothing system) lead to a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students will start to implement their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will understand the different types of materials that clothing is made from. They will research the environmental impacts of a specific type of material and will continue to work on their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 2 – What Clothes are Made of
- Students will understand the different types of materials that clothing is made from. They will research the environmental impacts of a specific type of material and will continue to work on their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to recognize the stages involved in the life cycle of clothing. They will be able to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions connected to one cotton t-shirt. Students will give and receive feedback on each other's actions and artifacts.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 3 – The Life Cycle of Clothing
- Students will be able to recognize the stages involved in the life cycle of clothing. They will be able to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions connected to one cotton t-shirt. Students will give and receive feedback on each other's actions and artifacts.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to explain how the clothing industry and our clothing choices lead to water pollution and will be able to identify how they can take action to reduce water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 1 – How does Clothing Impact Water Systems?
- Students will be able to explain how the clothing industry and our clothing choices lead to water pollution and will be able to identify how they can take action to reduce water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to explain how water pollution (specifically from clothing) impacts aquatic ecosystems and will identify how their action reduces the impacts of water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 2 – Ecosystem Impacts
- Students will be able to explain how water pollution (specifically from clothing) impacts aquatic ecosystems and will identify how their action reduces the impacts of water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to define microplastics and explain how they impact ecosystems and will be able to take action to reduce human impacts on water systems.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 3 – All About Microplastics
- Students will be able to define microplastics and explain how they impact ecosystems and will be able to take action to reduce human impacts on water systems.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to identify carbon sources and sinks. They will be able to explain how human activities (including our clothing system) lead to a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students will start to implement their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 1 – The Carbon Cycle
- Students will be able to identify carbon sources and sinks. They will be able to explain how human activities (including our clothing system) lead to a higher concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Students will start to implement their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will understand the different types of materials that clothing is made from. They will research the environmental impacts of a specific type of material and will continue to work on their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 2 – What Clothes are Made of
- Students will understand the different types of materials that clothing is made from. They will research the environmental impacts of a specific type of material and will continue to work on their actions.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to recognize the stages involved in the life cycle of clothing. They will be able to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions connected to one cotton t-shirt. Students will give and receive feedback on each other's actions and artifacts.
Timing: 1 hour
Climate Change Lesson 3 – The Life Cycle of Clothing
- Students will be able to recognize the stages involved in the life cycle of clothing. They will be able to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions connected to one cotton t-shirt. Students will give and receive feedback on each other's actions and artifacts.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to explain how the clothing industry and our clothing choices lead to water pollution and will be able to identify how they can take action to reduce water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 1 – How does Clothing Impact Water Systems?
- Students will be able to explain how the clothing industry and our clothing choices lead to water pollution and will be able to identify how they can take action to reduce water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to explain how water pollution (specifically from clothing) impacts aquatic ecosystems and will identify how their action reduces the impacts of water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 2 – Ecosystem Impacts
- Students will be able to explain how water pollution (specifically from clothing) impacts aquatic ecosystems and will identify how their action reduces the impacts of water pollution.
Timing: 1 hour
- Students will be able to define microplastics and explain how they impact ecosystems and will be able to take action to reduce human impacts on water systems.
Timing: 1 hour
Water Systems Lesson 3 – All About Microplastics
- Students will be able to define microplastics and explain how they impact ecosystems and will be able to take action to reduce human impacts on water systems.
Timing: 1 hour
