Landfill Lesson: Environmental Justice

Created by Teacher(s): Mallory Swafford, Yen-Yen Chiu|Published on: August 1, 2023

Grades: 6, 7, 8

Type: Lesson Plan

Subjects: English Language Arts

Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes

Created by: SubjectToClimate teachers

Region: Global

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Posted on Aug 01, 2023

Synopsis

In this lesson, students explore various impacts of landfills, learn about the environmental justice movement, and apply their learning to community action.

Step 1 - Inquire: Students learn about the decomposition rates of items commonly found in landfills and begin to discern issues landfills may cause.

Step 2 - Investigate: Students explore their local landfills, watch a video on the beginning of the environmental justice movement, and learn about environmental racism.

Step 3 - Inspire: Students learn about the federal environmental justice office and create a community awareness plan about landfills.

Share: This lesson plan is licensed under Creative Commons.

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Teacher Writer

Mallory Swafford

Teacher

I graduated in 2014 from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale with a zoology degree. I worked in the field of zoology until 2018 when I decided to make the switch to education. I now am certified to teach first through sixth grades in general education. I am endorsed in middle grades science and I expect to finish my master's in high school biology this year. I love teaching science and am excited to work with the Subject to Climate team!

Yen-Yen Chiu

Director of Education

Yen-Yen Chiu holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of San Diego. She taught public school for 22 years, from 2001 to 2023, specializing in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Music for grades 6–12, including Advanced Placement courses. Yen-Yen is credentialed in English, Mathematics, and Introductory Music, and has extensive experience designing interdisciplinary curricula that foster student choice, meaningful assessment, and authentic learning experiences.

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