An aerial view of the Great Salt Lake near Salt Lake City, UT.
Pedrik, CC BY 2.0
Pathway Summary
Anchoring phenomenon lesson
This pathway on the worsening air quality in Salt Lake City begins with students examining headlines, graphs, and images related to air quality in the area. Students then share their personal experiences with Salt Lake City's air quality, describing times when they or someone they know was impacted. They develop an initial model to explain the question: Why do we have poor air quality in Salt Lake City? Using their models, students identify areas of agreement and disagreement, as well as gaps in their thinking, before creating a Driving Question Board and listing Ideas for Investigation. Students also identify justice-oriented questions, wondering whether the impacts of poor air quality are experienced equally across different communities
Investigate lessons
Students investigate the causes of poor air quality, exploring features that make their community unique, factors contributing to air pollution, and the effects of decreasing water levels in the Great Salt Lake.
Culminating task
After completing the Climate Education Pathways base unit, students revisit their models to refine their explanations of Salt Lake City's poor air quality and consider actions they can take to educate others about climate impacts in their community. Students then create and publish “zines” (short, descriptive pamphlets) to help educate their community about climate change and to offer strategies for coping with climate anxiety.
Phenomenon
Air quality in Salt Lake City has gotten worse over time.
Community
Salt Lake City is in a valley between two mountain ranges, with an arid environment typical of a high-desert location. The Great Salt Lake, one of the largest saline lakes in the world, forms the northwest border of the city. Over the last few years, air quality in Salt Lake City has declined.
Materials Available
Anchoring phenomenon lesson
4 Investigate lessons
1 Synthesize lesson
Culminating task
Key Features
Justice-centered
Reducing climate anxiety
Educator Insight
Teacher: Erin Capra
Why I chose this phenomenon
In our city, air quality issues are impossible to ignore. Students come into this unit with their own experiences and curiosities. This ensures that all students are engaged and ready to work towards complete understandings and solutions.
How my students responded
Learning about climate change can leave students feeling overwhelmed and helpless, but this unit's emphasis on climate solutions left my students feeling motivated toward action.
