Not yet registered?

You are now "Test Driving" Teachers' Domain

You may view up to 7 resources in this limited trial period.

You have 6 views remaining. Register now for unlimited free access and to download, share, and save resources. Learn More

Thank you for "Test Driving" Teachers' Domain

You have viewed all seven resources permitted in this limited trial period. You may continue to browse the site, but to view, download, share, and save resources, you must register now. Registration is simple, safe, and free.

First time here?

As a user, you may browse Teachers' Domain and view as many resources as you wish without registering.

However, for access to all of the features of Teachers' Domain, we'll need a little more information. Learn More

About Registration:

Registering with Teachers' Domain is FREE and allows you to:

View as many resources as you like
Save, sort, and share resources using My Folders and My Groups
Download resources to your desktop
See standards correlations for your state

For more information:

Learn about our online Professional Development Courses, or review our Privacy Policy.

If you still have questions, please contact us.

Electronic Gadgets

Resource for Grades 1-4

| Citation

Media Type:
Video

Running Time: 2m 07s
Size: 2.3 MB

SAVE TO FOLDER
Share |

Source: LOOP SCOOPS

This media asset comes from LOOP SCOOPS.

Resource Produced by:

Collection Developed by:

Collection Credits

Collection Funded by:

Major funding for LOOP SCOOPS is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Although the information in these materials has been funded in part by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement 83447601 to WGBH, it may not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency and no official endorsement should be inferred.

Related Resources:

Garbage
(Video)

Happiness
(Video)

Juice Boxes
(Video)

Magazines
(Video)

Orange Juice
(Video)

In this animated video from LOOP SCOOPS, Oliver and his sister Gabby visit LOOP headquarters, where they take a quiz about Oliver's computer game. The kids are surprised to learn that the parts in the game device came from 18 different countries and traveled 228,000 miles; that the game device contains titanium, gold, and mercury; and that millions of discarded the game devices have ended up in landfills. After learning this, Oliver decides to keep his current the game device rather than getting a new one.

Permitted use:

Download and Share

Accessibility Features: Caption

Background Essay

Computers, televisions, and cell phones have transformed the way we live. They've also transformed our garbage. Electronic gadgets may contain everything from toxic metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium, to controversial chemicals like bromated flame retardants, which are suspected to cause liver, thyroid, and developmental problems. While it's true, as Oliver says in the video, that nobody is planning to eat their gadgets, these toxins and other computer components—known collectively as e-waste—are worrisome nonetheless. When electronics are disposed of improperly, these chemicals can migrate into soil, water, and air and accumulate in animals, humans, and the environment.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the stream of e-waste is growing at two to three times the rate of any other source of waste. Only 15 to 20 percent of e-waste is recycled. However, growing awareness of the problem is leading to change. Currently more than 1,000 cities and towns offer computer and electronics collections as part of household hazardous waste collections or special events. In addition, public and private organizations have emerged that accept computers and other electronics for recycling, and many electronics manufacturers are accepting used household electronics. Donating used (but still operating) electronics for reuse extends their lives and keeps them out of the waste stream for a longer period of time.

Printer Friendly Version of Background Essay

Print Background Essay

Teaching Tips

Here are suggested ways to engage students with this video and with activities related to this topic.

Viewing the video: Use the following suggestions to guide students’ viewing of the video:
- Before: Ask students how many of them have a computer, game console, television, or cell phone in their house. Tell them that they are going to watch a cartoon about a boy who loves video games. In the video, the boy will learn several surprising facts about his game. Ask students to watch for these facts.
- After: Ask which fact about the video game surprised them the most.
Doing a classroom activity: Have students sit on the floor with a large map of the world. Provide a list of countries where specific video game and computer components come from. Have students find these countries on the map and measure the distance between each one and their own location. (You can gather information by searching the Web for the components of a specific device.)
Connecting to subject areas: Have students organize a cell phone recycling drive. Many groups, such as cell phone manufacturers, retailers, network carriers, charities, and state or local solid waste departments offer cell phone donation and recycling programs.
Doing research projects—groups: Have students write a letter to their local Department of Public Works, asking for information about e-waste recycling. In the letter, students could request that the DPW send informational materials to the school, or they could ask for an expert to come and speak to their class.