How Should the Federal Government Spend Our Money?
This lesson plan connects intergenerational justice with the federal budget.
Wangari Maathai & Deforestation
This lesson introduces African environmentalist Wangari Maathai and links deforestation with the concepts of governance, poverty, and income opportunities for women in Kenya.
What Is a Green Space? (Green Spaces #1)
This lesson introduces the idea of green spaces to students.
Disappearing Green Spaces & Environmental Justice (Green Spaces #2)
This lesson explores the benefits of green spaces, how green spaces are disappearing, and how the disappearance of green spaces relates to environmental justice.
Indigenous Communities and the Environment (Green Spaces #3)
This lesson connects Indigenous communities with the natural environment.
With and Without Green Spaces (Green Spaces #4)
This lesson asks students to consider how their communities would look and feel with and without green spaces.
What Can We Do About Green Spaces? (Green Spaces #5)
This lesson explores ways in which students can address environmental injustice, looking at disparities between two California cities.
Transforming Knowledge Into Power (Green Spaces #6)
In this final lesson in the green spaces unit, students will use their knowledge to take action.
Introduction to Air Quality (Air Quality #1)
This lesson introduces students to air quality.
How Can Air Pollution Affect Our Bodies? (Air Quality #2)
In this lesson, students learn how to analyze characters in stories, reread Why Is Coco Orange?, and complete a journal entry.
The Air Quality Index and Particle Pollution (Air Quality #3)
In this lesson, students learn about particle pollution, motivated by an example in Los Angeles.
Air Quality and Environmental Justice (Air Quality #4)
In this lesson, students connect air quality with environmental justice.
The No Idling Campaign (Air Quality #5)
In this lesson, students learn about vehicle idling, gather and interpret data, and take action at their school.
Introduction to Renewable Energy (Renewable Energy #1)
In this lesson, students learn about renewable and nonrenewable sources, ways they use energy, and ways to conserve energy.
How Can We Conserve Energy? (Renewable Energy #2)
In this lesson, students reflect on their personal energy use, make a bar graph to analyze data from the class, and create a conservation poster for display.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Energy Resources? (Renewable Energy #3)
This lesson introduces students to renewable and nonrenewable energy resources.
How Does Renewable Energy Work? (Renewable Energy #4)
In this lesson, students learn the story of William Kamkwamba, build their own renewable-powered project, and share their project with the broader school community.
Renewable Energy Around the World (Renewable Energy #5)
In this lesson, students analyze how much renewable energy is used around the world.
How Can We Encourage Our Community to Use More Renewables? (Renewable Energy #6)
In this lesson, students advocate for renewable energy in their schools and communities, motivated by the success of Santa Monica, California students.
Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy (Art for the Earth #1)
In this lesson, students discuss and evaluate artwork by Jill Pelto, investigate renewable and nonrenewable energy, and demonstrate their learning through writing or drawing.
Deforestation and Habitat Destruction (Art for the Earth #2)
In this lesson, students learn about deforestation, analyze paintings featuring deforestation themes, and then have the choice to learn about Wangari Maathai or design a climate action plan related to deforestation.
Plastic World (Art for the Earth #3)
In this lesson, students view images of plastic pollution around the world, watch a video on plastic pollution, and analyze artwork about plastic pollution.
What Can YOUth Do? (Art for the Earth #4)
In this lesson, students learn about youth activists around the world, choose an environmental campaign, and collect data to support their campaign.
Data Review and Action Plan (Art for the Earth #5)
In this lesson, students analyze data, create line graphs, conduct research, and plan their data art project.
Create and Evaluate (Art for the Earth #6)
In this lesson, students learn watercolor techniques, identify their target audience and create a rubric, and complete their artwork.
What Are Carbon Emissions? (Green Transportation #1)
This lesson introduces carbon emissions and the idea of carbon and ecological footprints to students.
Emissions by Mode of Transportation (Green Transportation #2)
In this lesson, students compare and contrast emissions from different modes of transportation and explore the concept of transportation planning.
Into the Mind of a Transportation Planner (Green Transportation #3)
This lesson explores different transit systems around the world and unpacks the decision-making process behind transportation planning.
Understanding the Power of Media (Green Transportation #4)
This lesson promotes students' understanding of the power and influence of the media.
Metro Campaign Creation Time (Green Transportation #5)
In this lesson, students explore critical media literacy and begin creating their advertisements.
Metro Campaign Presentations (Green Transportation #6)
This lesson features the final advertisement presentations and provides students with the opportunity to think about how to use these projects to make an impact in real life.
A Look at Cancer Alley, Louisiana
In this lesson, students explore an interactive map, learn about Cancer Alley, and take concrete action to address environmental injustice.
Energy Research and Writing
In this activity, students research and write about the pros and cons of different energy types.
