This interactive map is a powerful tool for learning about the pollution hazards in the Los Angeles area.
It will allow students to view and compare pollution data, demographic data, and health information for the same geographic areas.
A brief description of the selected criteria is given to explain what the map is displaying.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This map is very easy to work with and understand.
After exploring the map, students may have a better understanding of environmental pollutants and their potential health and lifestyle effects on populations.
Additional Prerequisites
Students should be able to read maps and use basic map tools.
Some familiarity with the state of California's cities or geography would be helpful but is not necessary.
Differentiation
Connections could be made in health classes by learning about the health impacts detailed, in social studies classes by working with the population data sets to look for trends, or in math classes by working with the data sets to make graphs or compare values.
Challenge your students to find the strongest correlations they can between the pollution burdens and the population characteristics. For example, is there a specific place in California that has a strong connection between ozone and asthma, or water pollutants and poverty?
For individual work, have students choose a California town or city neighborhood to explore. How does the map explain the place's pollution burdens and population characteristics. Based on this research, would the student want to live there? Why or why not? What changes could be proposed?
Other related resources include this video and lesson about air pollution in Los Angeles, this article about Californians' perception of extreme heat and access to air conditioning, and this video about traffic impacts.
Scientist Notes
This map portrays spatial distribution of pollution burden, traffic density, and other environmental problems in US cities. These impact the population and accelerate health conditions such as asthma, respiratory infections, mental health, and others. This is insightful and recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
LS3: Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits
HS-LS3-2 Make and defend a claim based on evidence that inheritable genetic variations may result from: (1) new genetic combinations through meiosis, (2) viable errors occurring during replication, and/or (3) mutations caused by environmental factors.
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Geography
D2.Geo.3.9-12 Use geographic data to analyze variations in the spatial patterns of cultural and environmental characteristics at multiple scales.
D2.Geo.8.9-12 Evaluate the impact of economic activities and political decisions on spatial patterns within and among urban, suburban, and rural regions.
