This lesson plan is a multi-week project in which students learn about the issue of automobile idling and take action to reduce this habit that contributes to climate change in their community.
Students first conduct a survey collecting data to assess the amount of idling occurring at school, then create a visual display to represent the problem, then they design an art communication piece to encourage the discontinuation of automobile idling.
After students engage in this climate advocacy, they reassess the amount of idling in their community through a follow-up data collection event and determine if their actions inspired change.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This lesson plan is incredibly thorough and contains everything needed to conduct a multi-week project on a climate change action issue like automobile idling.
Students will feel a sense of agency in encouraging change as they assess an issue in their community, notify the public about it, and analyze the effectiveness of their awareness campaign.
The student worksheets are presented in Google Doc form, so editing and modifying is possible.
Students work in groups and have time for reflection in this project-based learning activity.
Additional Prerequisites
Students should feel comfortable creating visual displays through photography or movies.
Students should be able to work in a self-directed manner as they complete group projects and presentations.
The Green Shift link is broken.
Differentiation
The background information and Student Information sheet center around data from Canada. Teachers may wish to provide local data.
It may be helpful to have additional adult support to ensure safety for the two days students are in the parking lot recording idling data.
Be sure to emphasize that there may not be a correct answer to the more reflective questions posed throughout the project, but the point is to answer them thoughtfully.
Students may need assistance filling out their idling data sheets consistently between the two different survey collection dates, so go over each column and check for understanding before having students collect data.
Consider asking an art or media teacher to assist students in creating their visual displays to communicate the issue of automobile idling to the community.
Some students may struggle with a long, extended project if they are not engaged in the topic, so keep this in mind and check in on the groups' productivity as they are working independently.
Scientist Notes
This resource contains materials and information to help students learn about idling in cars and why it can be a problem. The toolkit then walks the students through designing a project and planning an event addressing idling at their school. The toolkit explains the connection between idling and climate change. It also contains a section with techniques to help students talk to family and friends about environmental and social issues. The information is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
MS-ESS3-3 Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
HS-ESS3-2 Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.5 Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify claims and findings and emphasize salient points.
Common Core Math Standards (CCSS.MATH)
Statistics & Probability (6-8)
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.SP.B.5 Summarize numerical data sets in relation to their context.
National Core Arts Standards
Media Arts: Standard 3 - Refine and complete artistic work.
MA:Cr3.1.6a Experiment with multiple approaches to produce content and components for determined purpose and meaning in media arts productions, utilizing a range of associated principles, such as point of view and perspective.
Media Arts: Standard 6 - Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
MA:Pr6.1.8a Design the presentation and distribution of media artworks through multiple formats and/or contexts.
