What's good for all of us is good for each of us. The Tragedy of the Commons refers to a situation in which one person's decision to act in his or her own best interest negatively affects the rest of the population—and ultimately, him or herself as well. Watch a short video that connects the phenomenon to ecology and conservation, and stresses the importance of using shared resources wisely.

Concepts

economic principles, ecology, overpopulation, overfishing, pollution, conservation, water conservation, energy conservation

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Pause at 0:45 to allow learners to solve the introductory riddle before hearing the answer
• Use in an environmental science class or when discussing the effects of pollution or resource waste
• Have class members think about ways they or their fellow students may engage in the Tragedy of the Commons

Classroom Considerations

• Concept is complex; consider frontloading the video with some preliminary discussion on the Tragedy of the Commons
• Comment section is open to the public

Pros

• Provides a short comprehension assessment
• Folds well into different fields of science, social studies, and language arts

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.9-10.2 RST.11-12.2