Planet Money Makes a T-Shirt
You're all probably aware of the fact that at least something you are wearing right now was made on the other side of the planet. But did you ever wonder what goes in to making that happen? The people who make the NPR radio program "Planet Money" did... and they made a short interactive documentary about it!
Your Task: Follow the steps below to learn about the life of a T-Shirt - from Mississippi cotton farm to your closet. Take notes and answer the questions as you go on a piece of paper, in a Google Doc, or in an email to jjohnson@jpsonline.org.
STEP 1: Read the background write up about the "Planet Money Makes a T-Shirt" project here.
STEP 2: Go to the starting page of the documentary HERE and watch the short introduction
STEP 3: Watch the videos for each of the 5 "chapters"
Chapter 1 - COTTON:
Chapter 2 - MACHINES:
Chapter 4 - BOXES:
Chapter 5 - YOU:
LAST STEP:
EXTRA CREDIT IF YOU HAVE TIME:
Your Task: Follow the steps below to learn about the life of a T-Shirt - from Mississippi cotton farm to your closet. Take notes and answer the questions as you go on a piece of paper, in a Google Doc, or in an email to jjohnson@jpsonline.org.
STEP 1: Read the background write up about the "Planet Money Makes a T-Shirt" project here.
- Why did they want to find out how T-shirts were made?
STEP 2: Go to the starting page of the documentary HERE and watch the short introduction
STEP 3: Watch the videos for each of the 5 "chapters"
- Be sure to read all of the additional information that goes with each chapter (scroll down after you watch the video).
- Take some general notes on each chapter as you watch then answer the specific questions listed below.
Chapter 1 - COTTON:
- List and explain the three reasons why 90% of the cotton in the world is produced in the United States.
Chapter 2 - MACHINES:
- Explain how Indonesia is in a "sweet spot" in the global T-shirt trade.
- Study the photos of factories presented below the video clip. What do you think about the similarities and or differences between garment factories 100 years ago and now?
- Explain how improved working conditions and higher wages could eventually hurt - rather than help - garment workers in Bangladesh.
Chapter 4 - BOXES:
- Who is Malcom McLean?
- How did his innovation change the world?
Chapter 5 - YOU:
- What is the point of this segment... why is it included?
LAST STEP:
- Watch one or both of the YouTube videos below about "Comparative Advantage"
- Write a short explanation of what comparative advantage is using examples from the "Planet Money Makes a T-shirt" project.
EXTRA CREDIT IF YOU HAVE TIME:
- Follow one or two of the links that show up in the information for each chapter of the documentary
- List which links you followed and summarize what you found.
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