Only One Earth, Climate Action, and Environmental Justice Lesson Series!

World Environment Day focuses on transformative actions on a global scale to protect and preserve our planet. This week we look at individual and collective efforts to reduce our impact on Earth and feature a few high-quality resources that you could use in your classroom.

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Endangered Species Day, Biodiversity, and New Lesson Series!

There are over two million known species of animals on Earth. But, as of 2022, a total of 41,415 species are endangered and 16,306 are threatened with extinction. This week we focus on the importance of biodiversity and feature a few high-quality resources that you can use in your classroom.

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Tough Choices

After Coco had her first asthma attack at a school’s 100-meter relay event, she investigates the sources of air pollution in the area, determined to improve the air quality.

Unit Overview

Through readings, activities and discussions, students learn about air pollution and its main causes and effects on people. After Coco had her first asthma attack at a school’s 100-meter relay event, she investigates the sources of air pollution in the area, determined to improve the air quality. Students also role play different community members in a town meeting to voice their opinions and vote on the future of on a local coal-fired power plant.

Grades

  • Grade 3
  • Grade 4
  • Grade 5

Lesson Type

In-class or online lesson

Environmental Topics

Environmental Justice, Green Guardianship, Health, Pollution, Sustainable Human Development 

Environmental Literacy Core Principles

For a summary of the environmental literacy principles and concepts embedded in this lesson series, please visit Green Guardians Environmental Literacy Core Principles.

Standards

ELA: RL.3.1 RL.3.3 RL.3.4 RL.3.7 W.3.1 W.3.3 W.3.4 W.3.5 W.3.7 W.3.8 SL.3.1 SL.3.2 SL.3.3 SL.3.4 SL.3.6 RL.4.1 RL.4.3 RL.4.4 RL.4.7 W.4.1 W.4.3 W.4.4 W.4.5 W.4.7  W.4.8 W.4.9 SL.4.1 SL.4.2 SL.4.3 SL.4.4 SL.4.6 RL.5.1 RL.5.4 RL.5.7 W.5.1 W.5.3 W.5.4 W.5.5 W.5.7 W.5.8 W.5.9 SL.5.1 SL.5.2 SL.5.3 SL.5.4 SL.5.6
History Social-Science: HSS-3.4 HSS-4.5 HSS-5.7
Science: 3-LS3-2 4-ESS3-1

Guides

Teacher Guide

This project may easily be extended into optional family discussions and activities around pollution and the effects of pollution on health. To facilitate this engagement, a family guide (in English and Spanish) has been created which teachers may choose to forward to interested parents and guardians.

Family Guide (English)

Lessons

Three lessons of 40 minutes each.

Lesson 1: Asthma Attack

Through a story and related activities, students join Coco and her friends at their school’s annual 100-meter relay race. While running, Coco has trouble breathing and then collapses on the track. It turns out that she just had her first asthma attack. At the hospital, Coco learns about the condition and its relationship to air quality. This discovery sends Coco and her friends on a mission to investigate the sources of air pollution in their area.

Lesson 2: Preparing for a Meeting

Students are invited to role play members in Coco’s community and attend a special town meeting that may decide the future of a local coal-fired power plant. Students are given individual role cards from four groups—health experts, community members, environmental activists, and power plant representatives. In these groups, students conduct research and prepare for their speeches at the meeting.

Lesson Materials

Lesson 3: A Special Meeting  

In the third lesson, students use their research to role play a special town meeting. Representatives from each group state their concerns, make recommendations, and answer questions from other groups. At the conclusion of the presentations, students vote in character for or against the continuation of the coal-fired power plant. Then they vote again from their own points of view.

Lesson Materials

Air Pollution and Environmental justice

Hi, welcome to The Poppy Podcast. I’m your host, Poppy. In this episode, I talk to Michael Newman, an environmental scientist who studies the impact of air pollution on people of different races, ethnicities and income levels.

Air Pollution and Environmental justice

Transcript

Poppy:

Hi, welcome to The Poppy Podcast. I’m your host, Poppy. In this episode, I talk to Michael Newman, an environmental scientist who studies the impact of air pollution on people of different races, ethnicities and income levels. We will explore how air pollution disproportionally affects low-income families and people of color. 

(dial tone)

Poppy:

Hi, Michael. Thank you for speaking with me on this very important matter. We all know that air pollution can cause severe health issues like asthma, heart disease and lung cancer. Does air pollution affect some people more than others? Who exactly are these people?  What does your research tell you?

Michael:

Hi, Poppy. Thanks for having me. Well… air pollution, intensified by climate change, does affect people differently. Many studies show that children, the elderly and people from low-income families are the most affected. Those living close to sources of pollution like fossil fuel power plants are also more vulnerable to air pollution related health problems. And when we look at people’s exposure to air pollution based on who they are — like their race, ethnicity and income level — we find that people of color have a much higher exposure rate than white people.  

Poppy:

Why do you think people of color face disproportionate exposure to air pollution?

Michael:

Well, this is a result of systemic racism in this country. Racism, discriminatory housing practices and real estate costs have pushed people of color into areas that are more polluted. Fossil fuel power plants that contribute to fine particle air pollution tend to be located near disadvantaged communities because of low land costs and regulatory loopholes. 

Poppy:

This is so unfair! These communities are the least prepared to cope with long-term health problems like asthma and cancer! How can they afford the extra medical bills? 

Michael:

You hit the nail on the head. Low-income communities are even more susceptible because they don’t have access to proper medical care, healthy grocery options, and safe working conditions. Many people have to work outdoors in heat or on smog days, which increases their exposure to ozone and particulate matter pollution. 

Poppy:

And I guess it is not easy to take sick days, either. You painted a very grim picture. Is there any hope at all for disadvantaged communities? What can we do to address these problems? 

Michael:

The short answer is yes. There certainly is hope; 28% of the coal-fired power plants operating right now are scheduled to be retired by 2035. But this isn’t enough. More power plants that run on fossil fuels need to be closed. The conversion to clean energy needs to be accelerated, too. To protect public health, higher standards need to be set for pollutants like nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides.  

Poppy:

A lot needs to be done. I think we should all take an active role in shaping air pollution-related regulations that affect the well-being of our communities.  

Michael:

Absolutely.

Poppy:

That’s all we have time for today. Thank you for listening to The Poppy Podcast. I’ll see you next time.