We Need to Change How We Bury the Dead
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Chemistry, Biology
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Provided by Vox
What it is
- This video from Vox outlines the high financial, environmental, and material costs of modern American burial practices.
- The video describes four alternative methods for dealing with human remains: cremation, promession, alkaline hydrolysis, and natural burial.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This video is great in exposing the environmental damage of modern American burials.
- The video includes several eye-opening statistics, including numbers on toxic chemicals, concrete use, and land use.
Prerequisites
- You may have to watch an ad before the video.
- Be mindful of approaching the subject of death with your students. Be sensitive to students who may have lost a loved one recently.
- The video does use the word damn at 4:40.
Differentiation & Implementation
- English or science students can watch this video and write a paragraph outlining how they would like their bodies handled after they are deceased.
- Social studies or geography students can use Google Maps to see how much space cemeteries take up in their neighborhoods. One discussion question to ask: "What else could the space be used for if it weren't used as a cemetery?"
- Students could also watch this video on biodegradable mushroom fiber coffins.
- To connect this to climate change, students can discuss how the use of energy to dispose of a body through cremation or other processes contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of these emissions on the climate.
From the scientist review
The video spotlights several burial methods and provides a comparative analysis on the methods, the trade-offs, and the need to adopt an eco-friendly method to reduce global carbon footprints. This resource is insightful and recommended for teaching.
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