Green Spaces Lesson: Environmental Justice
Lesson Plan
45 minutesGrades3, 4, 5Geography
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Written by Lindsey Pockl, Amber Medina
About this lesson
In this lesson, students consider the goods and services provided by green spaces. Students also learn about environmental justice as it relates to the prevalence of green spaces in different neighborhoods.
Inquire: Students brainstorm ideas on how green spaces provide goods and services.
Investigate: Students look at satellite images over time and of different neighborhoods to understand that green spaces are disappearing in general, and that the ones we have are not distributed equally in all communities.
Inspire: Students learn about how a young activist Jaysa Hunter-Mellers is advocating for environmental justice in her community, and add to the designs of their ideal green spaces.
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Suggestions
- Students will better understand deforestation by utilizing Google Earth.
- Students learn how urban tree cover disproportionately benefits wealthier communities.
- Students have opportunities to voice how learning about the disappearance of green spaces makes them feel, but also how knowing they can take action makes them feel.
- This lesson uplifts student voices and creates student agency to make the world better.
Prerequisites
- This is lesson 2 of 6 in our 3rd-5th grade Green Spaces Unit.
- Knowledge of the terms goods and services would be helpful prior to this lesson.
- Students may have strong emotional responses to learning about the disappearance of trees over time. This resource can help teachers discuss these emotions with students.
- Some students may be directly affected by the issues covered in this lesson, and the topic should be treated with sensitivity to their experiences.
Differentiation
- Possible extension in the Investigate section: Students explore Google Earth Time-Lapse - Changing Forests to view other areas of the Earth that are experiencing deforestation.
- These resources can be used to discuss environmental justice in more depth with students.
- Possible extensions in the Inspire section include the following:
- Write a reflection about today’s class.
- Draw a mini-comic or write a story where the protagonist advocates for environmental justice.
- Make a list of ways you can use goods and services to help make your community a cleaner, safer place.
- Teachers can support students who feel motivated to make changes in their schools or communities. Any project like this can extend far beyond this lesson.
- Students can work on their green space designs in groups.
Framework for Shifting Paradigms in Climate Education
This resource exemplifies the Centers Equity and Justice Key Focus Area.
- Core Component 1: Inclusive, Culturally, and Linguistically Relevant Content
- This lesson introduces students to environmental justice using a real-world example of green spaces in lower and higher-income communities. Students compare maps of the two communities and reflect on the inequities that exist. The lesson centers diverse voices with a video about youth activist Jaysa Hunter-Mellers, whose testimony led to the closure of a coal-powered plant that was polluting her community.
- Core Component 2: Fostering Environmental Stewardship Through Active Learning
- Students reflect on the goods and services that green spaces provide and how a lack of green spaces means fewer benefits for the community. Students use what they learned to design a green space that will make their community cleaner and safer for the people who live there, promoting a sense of active citizenship.
- Core Component 3: SEL Integration
- The lesson provides structured opportunities for students to pause and reflect on their feelings as they learn about topics like environmental justice, pollution, and environmental racism. While students have space to acknowledge and process their emotions, the lesson also shows students how they can channel their feelings of despair, anxiety, sadness, or anger into climate action.
From the scientist review
This lesson lets students understand the relationship between disappearing green spaces and environmental justice in their community. The lesson is elementary, suitable for classroom use, and has no scientific misconceptions. All materials are thoroughly sourced and have passed our science review.
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About the teacher writers
Lindsey Pockl
Lindsey worked with SubjectToClimate to develop accompanying materials for lesson plans for grades 3-12.
Amber Medina
Elementary School Teacher
Amber is a third grade elementary school teacher who has taught ELA, Environmental Education, and SEL. With a degree in Environmental Policy and Planning, her passion for environmental justice and action integrated curriculum led her to her commitment to climate education.
