Introduction to Environmental Justice

Provided by: EarthEcho International |Published on: March 1, 2025

Lesson Plans

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Synopsis

In this student-facing learning module from EarthEcho International, students will review key terms related to environmental justice and answer questions about three case studies of environmental justice communities.
Students will watch videos about the toxic pollution of chloroprene in Louisiana, a battery recycling operation in The City of Vernon in Southern California, and lead poisoning in Flint, Michigan.

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Subjects: Civics, Health

Authors: EarthEcho International, Betsy López-Wagner, and Diana Ruiz of López-Wagner Strategies with editing by Alfredo Ramirez

Region: California, Louisiana, Mid Michigan

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

Hearing the personal stories of those impacted by environmental justice issues is a powerful and moving experience that will stick with students.
Students will also get to see some of the wins for people who have fought for what is right.

Prerequisites

It may benefit students to understand the historical circumstances, such as redlining, that have contributed to current injustice. If students do not have background knowledge on this subject, the Redlining and Tree Equity: Social Justice Lesson has a section that can help build this knowledge.

Differentiation & Implementation

Using the flashcards in the Environmental Justice Key Terms section, students can draw or find pictures to represent each of the terms.
Students can record their answers to the reflection questions for each case study in a notebook or on a sheet of paper. Teachers can then use these questions as an assessment or as a reference guide for students to use during discussion.
Teachers can combine this resource with Defining Environmental Justice, which contains printable worksheets for students to use with the same case studies and other additional resources. This resource can be helpful for students without their own devices.

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About the Partner Provider

EarthEcho International

EarthEcho International envisions a world where every individual has the opportunity and tools to create a healthy and thriving environment. To that end, their mission is to build a global youth movement to protect and restore our ocean planet. Their Academy is a new virtual learning space developed to provide online courses for teacher professional learning with access to fully remote, asynchronous environmental education modules for students.

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.

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Introduction to Environmental Justice

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

About the Partner Provider

Scientist Reviewed

Related Teaching Resources