HISTORY
The first flush toilet was invented in 1596 in England by Sir John Harington, the godson of Queen Elizabeth I. Over time, many inventors improved its design.
Illustrations by Pete McDonnell
Would You Rather Live Without Toilets or Light Bulbs?
We use these inventions every day. Could you live without one?
By Dani Leviss
From the February 2024 Issue
Learning Objective: Students will gather and use information about toilets and light bulbs to support an argument.
TOILET
Illustrations by Pete McDonnell
Toilets send waste to sewers, keeping it off of streets and out of yards. This helps prevent diseases from spreading.
Without a toilet . . .
. . . you would need another way to get rid of your waste!
That’s important because human poop contains germs that cause disease. Before flush toilets were invented, people often dumped waste into the streets or rivers. Others collected it in holes in the ground. As a result, germs spread in drinking water and made people sick. Unfortunately, about 3.6 billion people who don’t have access to flush toilets today still face these risks.
LIGHT BULB
Illustrations by Pete McDonnell
Light bulbs use electricity to produce light in a way that’s safer than candles and lanterns.
Without a light bulb . . .
. . . your life would be a lot darker!
Traveling or working in darkness can be difficult and dangerous. You might need to wake up early to make the most of the sun’s light, then go to bed at sunset. That’s what people did before light bulbs existed. (It’s also what 675 million people who live without electricity still do today!) Gas lamps and candles provide some light, but they can be dangerous. If they tip over, they could start a fire.
What does your class think?
Which would you rather live without?
Which would you rather live without?
Which would you rather live without?
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Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
1. PREPARE TO READ (5 minutes)
Discuss factors that affect decision making.
- Ask students if they have ever played the Would You Rather? game. Explain that in this game, a person must make a tricky choice between two things. There isn’t a “right” answer, but you should be able to defend your choice.
- Ask students: Would you rather live without toilets or without light bulbs? Then ask: If someone else had to choose, what factors would you advise them to consider? (e.g., health consequences, costs) Record student ideas.
2. READ AND Evaluate (20 minutes)
Gather information and weigh the evidence.
- Play the video “Would You Rather Live Without Toilets or Light Bulbs?” Give students time to jot down their initial choice and to note the reasoning behind their decision.
- Designate one side of the room “live without toilets” and the other side “live without light bulbs.” Tell students they’re allowed to change their mind later, but for now they should go to the side that matches their choice. Do a quick tally of each side and record it on the board. Then have students return to their seats.
- Ask students to predict which was invented first: the toilet or the light bulb? Then read the article aloud. Ask: What information did you find most surprising or interesting? Did your original choice change? If so, why? (Remind students that new information can change one’s mind—as we learn more, our thinking often changes!)
3. RESPOND TO READING (20 minutes)
Write and evaluate an evidence-based opinion.
- Tell students it’s final decision time! Preview the Explain Your Choice activity. Have students discuss and complete step 1 within groups. Then briefly discuss as a class. Afterward, have students complete steps 2 and 3 independently.
- Reconvene and tally their final choices. If desired, post the papers in two groups, divided by choice. Have students do a gallery walk of the opposite choice and identify one argument they think is persuasive. Have them write 2-3 sentences about why it’s persuasive.
Text-to-Speech