Introduction to Environmental Justice
Summary
Welcome to EcoRise’s Introduction to Environmental Justice curriculum. We are excited to share these resources with you and your students!
Using the resources in this course, elementary, middle, and high school students will learn that harming the environment is an example of unkind behavior and that people of color are disproportionately impacted by environmental problems. Each lesson facilitates exploration of how kindness, compassion, and empathy can contribute to repairing damage caused by racist behaviors, policies, and systems. Students will take a close look at leaders and events that helped form the EJ movement and discuss how they can help dismantle/counteract damage caused by systemic racism. They explore examples of EJ Heroes—activists who have addressed environmental justice problems in their communities—and begin exploring strategies they can implement to become EJ heroes, too.
Modules
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Introduction to Environmental Justice: Recommended for Grades K-3
This lesson creates a foundation for elementary school students to begin understanding the topic of environmental justice (EJ). Through a social-emotional learning lens, students will investigate how racism impacts people on an interpersonal and systemic level. They will learn a few details about the history of racism in the United…
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Introduction to Environmental Justice: Recommended for Grades 4-8
This lesson creates a foundation for high school students to understand the topic of environmental justice (EJ). Session 1 begins with a challenge that illustrates the impact of an unequitable distribution of resources. This dynamic, eye-opening exercise leads to rich dialogue about inequality and environmental racism in the world today.…
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Introduction to Environmental Justice: Recommended for Grades 9-12
This lesson creates a foundation for high school students to understand the topic of environmental justice (EJ). Session 1 begins with a challenge that illustrates the impact of an unequitable distribution of resources. This dynamic, eye-opening exercise leads to rich dialogue about inequality and environmental racism in the world today.…
