Are you a New Jersey educator? If so, check out our NJ Climate Change Education Hub for NJ-specific resources!
This lesson explores aviation’s impact on climate change, its connection to environmental justice, and ways to reduce aviation. Students will explore case studies of airport-related environmental injustice and discuss the just transition away from aviation.
Step 1 - Inquire: Students learn how aviation is related to climate change and environmental justice.
Step 2 - Investigate: Students explore examples of airport-related environmental injustice.
Step 3 - Inspire: Students discuss the just transition away from aviation.
Teacher creates groups of 3-4 students. Each group of students needs a copy of the Student Slideshow for their group.
Teacher asks the guiding question: “How is aviation related to climate change and environmental justice?”
Students write their response on Student Slide 4.
Students turn and talk with their group.
Select students share out their responses with the entire class.
Teacher explains: “Today we will be looking at aviation and how it relates to climate change and environmental justice. Then we will look at some case studies around the world to see what is happening when new airports are constructed or current airports are expanded.”
Teacher uses the slideshow to:
Explain the climate impact of aviation.
Explain the injustice of flying.
Explain what can happen when new airports are constructed or current airports are expanded.
Teacher reads through “What is the climate impact of aviation?” (Teacher Slides 7-10)
Students answer prompts on Student Slide 10.
Students turn and talk with their group.
Select students share out their responses with the entire class.
Teacher reads through “How unjust is flying?” (Teacher Slides 11-14)
Students answer prompts on Student Slide 15.
Students turn and talk with their group.
Select students share out their responses with the entire class.
Stay Grounded
Stay Grounded - Get Information Page
Type: Digital Text
Teacher explains that students will explore the environmental justice atlas.
Teacher reads the “What is this Project about?” section on Teacher Slide 17.
Optional: Teacher can read some or all of the more detailed descriptions in the Map of Airport-Related Injustice and Resistance after clicking “see more” on the right side.
In groups, students explore the Map of Airport-Related Injustice and Resistance.
Students click through various sites on the map, exploring different case studies.
Each group selects one case study and reads through the information.
Each group collaboratively completes Student Slide 17.
Groups take turns sharing their findings with the rest of the class.
Environmental Justice Atlas
Map of Airport-Related Injustice and Resistance
Type: Interactive Media
Teacher uses Teacher Slide 19 to facilitate a discussion about different methods to reduce global aviation. (Source: Degrowth of Aviation: Reducing Air Travel in a Just Way)
Students voice support for any or all of the four options.
Stay Grounded
Degrowth of Aviation: Reducing Air Travel in a Just Way
Type: Article
Positives
Students will engage in a lively discussion at the end of the lesson.
Additional Prerequisites
Differentiation
Feel free to skim over Teacher Slide 9 in the teacher slideshow. There is a lot of text on that slide. You can also have students explore that slide together for a few minutes in groups. Then they can share their takeaways with the rest of the class.
Students will have to sift through the information on the Environmental Justice Atlas to find what is necessary to find for their slideshow. Students will retrieve valuable information while ignoring some other information. You may have to help students who are not skillful at skimming through information.
At the end of the lesson, some students might not support any of the four proposed ways to reduce aviation. That is totally fine. As the teacher, you should present evidence and ask good questions.
