Lesson Plans

This activity guides students through three mapping exercises where they will learn how to use ArcGIS tools to visualize public health and environmental (in)justice issues and patterns.
Duration: 3 hours

The World Climate Simulation is an interactive role-play of an international climate summit to understand the long-term impacts of global climate reduction negotiations and strategies.
Duration: 2 hours (spread over two class periods). Can be adapted for shorter or longer timeframes.

This activity engages students in a visioning conference to imagine what climate justice looks like and how to create that justice.
Duration: ~ 1 hour

Students will be asked to prepare arguments on a debate topic, present their argument, and respond to opposing arguments to encourage researching a geographical topic, critical thinking, and oral presentation skills.
Duration: 1-2 hours

This lesson introduces students to the fundamentals of climate change policy, focusing on how governments, international organizations, and stakeholders respond to climate change through mitigation and adaptation strategies. Students analyze real-world policy decisions and consider tradeoffs involved in addressing global climate challenges.
Duration: 1–2 class periods (approximately 60–90 minutes total)

Students investigate how physical and social factors combine to create unequal heat exposure across cities, using maps and hand-on exploration with thermometers to analyze heat. 
Duration: 120 minutes

This activity brings climate change to students through story. This approach serves to build empathy and emotional responses rather than getting mired down in the scientific or political debates.
Duration: 1-2 hours

This lesson introduces students to the global food system and its climate and social impacts, challenging students to envision and design a more sustainable alternative.
Duration: Multi-class period Activity

This activity guides students through three mapping exercises where they will learn how to use ArcGIS tools to visualize climatic changes and potential for mitigation solutions.
Duration: 3 hours

Students will explore the relationship between urban expansion and increased environmental hazard risk. 
Duration: 120 minutes