Air pollution is visible from a river.
Chris LeBoutillier, CC 0
Pathway Summary
Anchoring phenomenon lesson
Students examine graphs showing that the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas have been experiencing worse-than-average air quality. They also observe that an increasing number of children are being hospitalized for asthma and related respiratory issues. Students develop an initial model to explain what could be causing the worsening air quality and associated health impacts, and then create a Driving Question Board and generate ideas for further investigation.
Investigate lesson
Students explore data collected across Cincinnati neighborhoods and notice a surprising pattern: most hospitalizations come from a relatively small number of neighborhoods. They then examine a city-wide dataset and discover that the neighborhoods experiencing the highest rates of respiratory-related illnesses and hospitalizations are predominantly low socioeconomic areas. These areas also experience higher temperatures and have fewer trees compared to neighborhoods with lower hospitalization rates and higher socioeconomic status.
Synthesize lesson
Students revise their initial models using the evidence they have gathered and recognize that climate change is contributing to worsening air quality in Cincinnati.
Phenomenon
Air pollution impacts Cincinnati neighborhoods in different ways.
Community
Cincinnati, Ohio is situated on the Ohio River and has historically been an industrial manufacturing community. It also has historically had a high poverty rate. Over the last several years, the city has experienced worsening air pollution that differentially impacts Cincinnati neighborhoods. Relatedly, neighborhoods experiencing the worst air pollution are also seeing higher rates of asthma-related hospitalizations.
Materials Available
Anchoring phenomenon lesson
1 Investigation lesson
1 Synthesize lesson
Key Features
Urban
Justice-centered
Educator Insight
Teacher: Kat Sickinger
Why I chose this phenomenon
I knew that the Cincinnati Biochar Project was a new and upcoming project I wanted my students to be aware of, so I wanted to include that into the phenomenon and culminating task in some way.
How my students responded
My students were pretty unaware of how air pollution impacts various neighborhoods within Cincinnati in different ways. Having them explore multiple variables on how air pollution impacts these neighborhoods differently opened their eyes to a lot of issues around climate and environmental justice.
