How Does Air Pollution Affect People Differently?
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Civics
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Science Journal for Kids
What it is
- This lesson discusses the research findings that show people of color are exposed to more pollution from almost every type of pollution source, and highlights the racial inequities associated with air pollution in particular.
- The scientific article can be downloaded and includes vocabulary terms, reading comprehension questions, references, and other resources.
- Videos are included to help support student learning and engagement.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The videos within this resource are engaging and address various aspects of the impacts of air pollution.
- The article provided is a colorful PDF with charts, graphs, a glossary, and a check for understanding.
Additional Prerequisites
- In order to access the Teacher's Key, teachers must provide some basic information, including name, school, and email address.
- Once signed up, teachers will have access to all of the resources and must then scroll in order to find the relevant resources.
Differentiation
- Since the first video consists of a narrator reading aloud the provided article and highlights key words and important facts, consider having students who may need reading support follow along with the video while allowing stronger readers to read the article independently.
- After giving students an opportunity to watch the videos and read the article, put students in pairs to discuss the "Check Your Understanding" questions before asking them to provide written answers in order to assess their understanding of the content.
- This resource might be well-paired with another lesson about environmental racism and redlining, such as this SubjectToClimate lesson plan.
- As an extension activity, students can listen to this podcast and participate in group discussion about the far-reaching impacts of air pollution on the brain.
From the scientist review
While air pollution is a concern across most of the planet, data shows that people of color are disproportionately affected by bad air quality. This research shows that when you break down air pollution by location and source, it is more often coming from areas close to where people of color live. This resource is heavily sourced and researched and is recommended for teaching.
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