Materialism in the U.S. is a huge problem with both young adults and just about everybody else. We blindly purchase what we can with no consideration of what else could be done. This problem pervades our youth through media and celebrities that tote the ideal of absolute spending and disengaged societal awareness.

To connect to mathematics, we will be comparing the amount of money via materials that students carry around to the amount of money it would cost to help charitable organizations. What is expendable? What materials can students live without? What good could students do through philanthropy? This will also connect to the expenditure of items over time and thus work well as a compared related rates lesson.

This lesson will connect to the students mathematically inside of the classroom and create a community of awareness of the students impact on communities. It will also give them an intro into related rates.

Outside of class students will become more aware as consumers and aware of how their materials effect their identity. A big part of middle school is finding identity and our lessons should incorporate materials that keep students trying to discern sophisticated information throughout the day.

Outside of class students will become more aware as consumers and aware of how their materials effect their identity. A big part of middle school is finding identity and our lessons should incorporate materials that keep students trying to discern sophisticated information throughout the day.

Several literacies could be used. YouTube, phone and other various technologies could be used to bring light to materialism. It is somewhat ironic that students will be utilizing the same resources that are being examined under the lens of materialism. This will hopefully raise many questions in the students mind.