How America's Hottest City Is Trying to Cool Down
Provided by: Vox|Published on: April 27, 2021
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Videos
Subjects: Social Studies, Health
Authors: Vox
Region: North America, USA - West, United States, Arizona
Languages: English
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video explains the connection between poverty and extreme heat in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Students will learn that the city's plan to plant more trees will lower temperatures, but it will be expensive and difficult for lower-income citizens to maintain the trees.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The video shows the correlation between climate change and poverty levels using the visuals of a heat map and an income level map.
- The video description provides links for further reading.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should have a basic understanding of climate change.
- The video may begin with an ad.
Differentiation
- Students could compare the conditions in their community with that of Phoenix and decide if the community could benefit from planting trees. If the community would benefit from more trees, students could raise money and plant trees in the community.
- Students could work in groups to research the surface temperature maps and the poverty rates of different cities.
- Other resources on this topic include this SubjectToClimate lesson plan on urban tree density and environmental justice, this article on the ways that heat impacts infrastructure and people, and this video on how urban heat affects communities of color.
This resource is a 7-minute video that presents a very compelling case study looking at the relationship between wealth, poverty, climate change, and infrastructure. Wealthy communities in Phoenix, Arizona have more trees for shade than poorer communities, and this has a direct link to health. This is a very well-produced video. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
