Lesson Plans

Lesson Plan
This lesson introduces students to air quality. 

Step 1 - Inquire: Using a KWL chart, students brainstorm what they know about air quality and what they want to learn. 

Step 2 - Investigate: Students read Why Is Coco Orange?, a story about a chameleon and how his skin changes color depending on the air quality. 

Step 3 - Inspire: Students complete a journal entry based on the lesson.
Grade 3-5
Subject English Language Arts
Resource Type Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students learn how to analyze characters in stories, reread Why Is Coco Orange?, and complete a journal entry. 


Step 1 - Inquire: Students learn about and practice identifying character traits.


Step 2 - Investigate: Students read Why Is Coco Orange?


Step 3 - Inspire: Students identify character traits in Coco and Coco's friends. Then students complete a journal entry, choosing one of three provided options.

Grade 3-5
Subject English Language Arts,Health
Resource Type Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan
In this lesson, students learn about particle pollution, motivated by an example in Los Angeles. 

Step 1 - Inquire: Students review key concepts from Why Is Coco Orange? and watch a video on air pollution in Los Angeles.

Step 2 - Investigate: Teacher plays The Cilia Game with students.

Step 3 - Inspire: Students explore an interactive map of air quality and complete a journaling entry.
Grade 3-5
Subject Social Studies,Geography,English Language Arts,Health
Resource Type Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan
In this lesson, students connect air quality with environmental justice. 

Step 1 - Inquire: Students discuss their journals with their classmates, sharing learnings and reflections from the last few lessons.

Step 2 - Investigate: Students learn the concept of environmental justice.

Step 3 - Inspire: Students explore the EPA's Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool and complete a journal entry.
Grade 3-5
Subject Social Studies,Geography,English Language Arts
Resource Type Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students learn about vehicle idling, gather and interpret data, and take action at their school. 


Step 1 - Inquire: Students learn about car idling and its harmful impacts on human health.


Step 2 - Investigate: Students study idling vehicles at their school by making observations, creating graphs, and interpreting data.


Step 3 - Inspire: Students take action by creating an awareness poster, bumper sticker, or launching a No Idling Campaign at their school!

Grade 3-5
Subject Science,Social Studies,Earth and Space Sciences,Civics
Resource Type Lesson Plan


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