AIR POLLUTION IN the Community
Activity 8 (Elaborate): Not in My Backyard:
Environmental Justice
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Activity Summary
In this activity, students investigate whether environmental injustice may be happening in their communities by using the EPA’s EJ Screen Tool. They will examine a series of maps and graphs to compare pollution levels and demographics in these areas in order to reach their conclusions.
Activity Objectives & Materials
Approximate Time: 60 minutes
Objectives:
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Students will understand the concept of environmental justice
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Students will investigate environmental justice in their community to see if certain groups of people are more frequently affected by air pollution
Materials:
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Computer & projector
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Student computers (highly recommended)
Handouts:
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Environmental Justice investigation guide
Low Tech vs. High Tech: For this activity, students will use maps from the EPA’s online Environmental Justice Screen tool. If student computers are available, they will look up the information themselves. If computers are not available, you will need to have students look on the projector as you use the tool, or print out versions of the maps for students to use. The directions below are based on using student computers, but what students will do with the maps is essentially the same either way.
Standards Connection
Warm-up
1. Frame the Activity
2. Introduction to EJ Screen
3. Particulate Matter and Ozone Maps
4. Demographics
5. Side-by-Side Maps
6. EJ Indexes
7. Neighborhood Reports
8. Sensemaking Discussion
9. Formative Assessment: Drawing Conclusions