1) Choose one of the following articles as a group.
Airborne Nitrogen Dioxide Plummets Over China
India’s Air Pollution Plummets in COVID-19 Lockdown
In India, life under coronavirus brings blue skies and clean air
2) Read the article outloud together. Discuss as you go.
3) Respond to the following question.
Criteria for Success:
Everyone on task with article during the break out time
Reading is an agreed, shared responsibility.
Group remains focused and on topic the whole conversation
Time is monitored well (10 minutes total)
Question: Write three things that you learned while reading this article that you would like to share with the class. Each person should be comfortable explaining their learning.
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1
Question 2
2.
The articles above were from India and China. What is one piece of evidence from this image for how the "stay at home" policy is impacting the air quality in the United States a positive way? Write it as a complete sentence such as, "According to an article published in National Geographic last week, ..."
Write both a TREND and a SPECIFIC piece of evidence.
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1
Question 3
3.
Apply - Take Action
In this week's bulletin, Catlin's Environmental Action Team wrote:
50 years ago, millions of people worldwide took to the streets on the first Earth Day to demand a healthier environment. Despite COVID-19, the climate crisis continues. Earth Day is on April 22nd and people around the world have been preparing for digital climate strikes.
We are running out of time to lower our emissions, and we need all hands on deck. Please join us and demonstrate your support for climate action. We hope you can participate in as many of these options as possible.
Thanks,
Chloe Jahncke and the Environmental Action Team
Below are some ways to get involved. I have added one from the Sustainability Committee. Select one that you are interested in doing and enjoy!
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1
Question 4
4.
Take a photo to show some evidence of your action. Have fun with this! (screen shot, photos, cc of an email)
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Question 5
5.
Reflect - What change would you make?
Think about how your world has shifted since staying at home. If you had the ability to change one policy or make a shift in our lifestyle that would positively help the environment, what would it be? This should be a change in something since we have been asked to stay at home.
This is a totally dream question. Be thoughtful, but not necessarily realistic in your response.
Example response: I grew up in Japan where we could get anywhere on bus or train. My dream would be for the government to ban all cars and then we would put our money towards building a better PUBLIC transportation system. This is something I think about a lot now because my family is hardly driving anywhere. I haven't filled up the gas tank in weeks which is very different than normal. My hope is that this shift in transporation allows for us to decrease our car emissions overall.
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Question 6
6.
Optional Extension
Read more about how the EPA sets air quality standards HERE. Write any learnings or a response for me to read below.