GETTING

THERE

Background Information

We as Americans are obsessed with the idea of going somewhere -anywhere- as long as it's not "here." But our "here" can be someone else's "there" and our "there" can be their "here."

This activity explores what we define as "there" and why we want to go "there." What makes us feel that we need to go "there?" Is it advertising? Part of a social life?

This activity also explores how we might change how we think about "getting there" and how we can make "getting there" less car intensive.

Student Activities

1. There:

a. Introduction: Think about:

• What is "there?"

• Why is "there" important?

• Why do we go to the places we do? We will use shopping as an example. Ads are designed to make us want to shop.

Think about the places you go to frequently (at least once a week).

List them.

Then list the reasons why you go to these places.

Places I go and reasons why

_____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

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b. Motivation: One of these places is probably the mall. This is the place ("there") that we will focus on in this activity.

1. Think about why you feel you need to go to the mall:

• Are you influenced by advertising?
• Do you meet your friends there?
• Is it an enjoyable place to spend (or waste) time?

List these reasons.

• Try to be specific, for example:
• The ads for xxx product make me want to see/buy it;
• It's a social experience;
• Being able to spend money and buy things gives me a sense of being "somebody;"
• I meet my friend, xxx there.

Why I go to the mall

____________________________________________________

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2. Think about the reasons why you go to the mall.

• How could you derive the same satisfaction? (For example, if shopping is a social experience, could you car pool to incorporate in into the trip?)
• Note: The accident rate increases when too many teens are in a car. This will be covered in "Killer Cars."

c. Action: What can stores and individuals do?

1. Stores:

• Can we encourage stores to reward responsible teen driving (car pooling, no speeding, etc.) by offering coupons, etc.?
• Develop a strategy for stores to encourage responsible teen driving. Present it to a store or mall.

2. Individuals and motivations:

• Develop an ad campaign based on alternatives to excessive driving.
• Present the ad campaign to a selected audience.

2. Focus Group: Work with a focus group discussing the questions raised in this activity and developing some group strategies.

3. Inventory

a. Data Collection:

1. For one week, keep a detailed account of:

• all miles driven;
• reasons.

2. Categorize: Are they:

• essential?
• for educational purposes?
• work related?
• for entertainment?

b. Analysis:

1. List which trips are non-essential.

2. Calculate how much pollution is emitted.

3. Propose how miles driven can be limited. Examples might include:

• One trip for several purposes;
• Car pooling;
• Bike;
• Public Transportation.

4. Using proposed suggestions, keep records for another week. Analyze as in 3.a.

5. Re-calculate miles traveled and pollution emitted.

Getting There

Teachers Notes

As a result of this activity, students should recognize why they feel a need to go "there." They should recognize alternative ways to get "there" that require less total miles driven.

They should also recognize that these alternatives can save gasoline and limit pollutants.

Through discussions, students may support each other in the acceptance of alternative ways of "getting there."