Theme
Critical thinking on fast fashion
Activity Duration
14 hours
Group Size
17 students aged 17–18 (4th class Wellness sector)
Objectives
- Involve students in reflecting on their own buying habits and what can be changed towards a more sustainable vision
- Help students reason about conscious consumption and develop practical knowledge on the topic
- Build awareness of the environmental and social impact of fast fashion
Description
Students in a Wellness class take a close look at their own wardrobes — and their habits — to challenge the logic of fast fashion. The activity opens with teacher-led input, a documentary video, and small-group research into textile types and materials. Students check the labels of the clothes they are actually wearing, then produce bilingual flash cards on different fibres. They design a peer survey on buying habits, collect and analyse the data, and each student records a short video at home in front of their wardrobe, explaining what to keep and what to reuse. The activity builds towards a real second-hand clothes market organised inside the school, open to other classes. A visit to Milan Fashion Week and the Giorgio Armani exhibition adds a cultural and industry perspective. Finally, students create a digital presentation and share their findings with 1st-year Wellness classes through peer-to-peer education.
Materials/Tools
- Google Forms (for survey design)
- Digital devices
- Students’ own clothes
Space (indoor, outdoor, settings…)
Indoor – school and home
Structures/steps (timing)
0. Presentation of the activity + video (1 hour)
Introduction to the topic via teacher presentation and a documentary (Rai 3).
1. Research (4 hours)
Small groups research different types of textiles and materials online (1h). Students then check the labels of the clothes they are wearing (1h). They produce bilingual flash cards (Italian and English) on the characteristics of different fibres (2h + 1h home activity).
2. Survey design & submission (2 hours – IT Lab)
Students design a questionnaire to investigate peers’ buying habits (e.g. “What elements do you consider when buying clothes?”) and submit it to other students.
3. Data analysis (1 hour – IT Lab)
Collection and analysis of survey responses. To be completed by October 24th.
4. Wardrobe video (1 hour)
At home, each student records a short video in front of their wardrobe, selecting up to 10 pieces and explaining what to keep and what to reuse, motivating each choice. Results are discussed in a group brainstorming session. To be completed by October 24th.
5. Second-hand clothes market (2 hours)
Students organise and set up a second-hand market inside the school (1h), then run the exchange activity open to other classes (1h).
6. Presentation preparation (1 hour – home activity)
Small groups create a digital presentation covering the main topics and findings of the activity.
7. Peer-to-peer sharing (1 hour)
Students present and share their results with 1st-year Wellness classes.
Evaluation System/Tools
Badges awarded for group work observation, teamwork during market organisation and setup, combined with formal evaluation of oral and written production.
