Tragedy of the Commons

• This Khan Academy video uses a simple example of a public fishing pond to illustrate the tragedy of the commons, which allows unprotected areas or resources to become depleted or destroyed by overuse. 
• The resource includes a video, a transcript, and an interactive quiz. 
  

Positives

• This is a simple example that helps students understand the need for regulations and protections for the things that no one owns but that everyone relies on, like air, water, and nature.
• They suggest a solution: having some sort of permitting or restrictions established to protect these areas.
  

Additional Prerequisites

• It may help to have students make a list of everything they can think of that isn't owned on Earth but could be used by many different people.
  

Differentiation

• This video could be connected to topics such as competition, population density, ecosystem limits, and planning for future generations.
• This video could be used to introduce different concepts of caring for the Earth and for the future, like those of many Indigenous cultures that live within their ecosystem's limits and think many generations ahead when making decisions.
• Other resources related to this topic include this TED video on intergenerational justice, this article about mining in Venezuela, and this course on globalization.
  

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