Questions

1. After the presentations, lead students in a discussion that addresses the following
   
   a. Discuss how your decisions were made. (As a group, as individuals, etc.)
   b. Relate these decisions to those made in real life (with family and friends).
   c. Why don’t we make the same choices in our everyday lives? (We don’t seem to have the same restrictions — or do we?)
   d. How did you decide what type of product is best in terms of the least amount of waste generated? (Weight? Number of uses? Types of uses?)
   e. Is it always better to use less? Are there times when it makes sense to use more? (Does using less always translate to more efficiency?)
   f. What about products shared by the group as opposed to individual products?
   g. How frequently did your group employ sharing strategies?
   h. How might group strategies apply to real life?
   i. What individual sacrifices had to be made for the good of the group?
   j. What was your best weight-saving strategy?
   k. Did any items have a dual function?
   
   
2. Introduce source reduction and ask the class to attempt to make a working definition. Define source reduction for the class:

   Source reduction is the collection of activities and actions that lead to a reduction in the quantity and/or toxicity of solid waste. Simply said, it is a process of using less material.

3. Discuss how source reduction strategies were used in the simulation in place of other disposal options. Draw inferences from what students did on the island to real life applications. Talk about source reduction strategies that could be used in real life such as bulk purchasing for a group, sharing magazine subscriptions, reusing containers, buying concentrates or larger sizes, using rechargeable batteries, using both sides of the paper, carpooling, etc. Discuss the importance of source reduction as the most effective way to cut down on waste.
   
   
4. Ask the class where the name Etsawon came from.
   
   
5. Have the class think about the island as a metaphor for the Earth. What does this say about the way we need to live our everyday lives? (This is a great essay topic!)