Lesson Time: 105 minutes

Objectives: - Students will be able to explain what global climate change is and its causes. - Students will be able to explain why environmental injustice in the Boston metro area is an important issue, and the impact it has on different communities. - Students will be able to explain practical steps that can be taken to reduce environmental injustices in the Boston metro area.

Materials & Equipment: - Computer with internet access - Projector - Charts, newspaper clippings, or other visual aids

Introduction (10 minutes): 1. Begin the lesson by asking the students what they know about global climate change. 2. Ask students to list all the different impacts of climate change they can think of. 3. Discuss with students what global climate change is and its causes. Explain that global climate change is a complex phenomenon caused by the increasing emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as a result of human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, agricultural practices, and land-use change. 4. Explain that the effects of global climate change can be felt on different scales, from local to global, and can have serious impacts on the environment, human health, and food production.

Discussion (30 minutes):
1. Introduce environmental injustice in the Boston metro area. Explain that environmental injustice is when certain communities are disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards, such as air pollution, contaminated water, and other environmental hazards. 2. Discuss with students the factors that can increase or exacerbate environmental injustice in the Boston metro area. Examples include disparities in income and resources; access to clean air and clean water; and exposure to hazardous materials. 3. Ask students to brainstorm ideas of how environmental injustice in the Boston metro area affects different communities.

Activity (45 minutes): 1. Divide the class into small groups. 2. Provide each group with a chart, newspaper clippings, or other visual aids that illustrate the effects of environmental injustices in the Boston metro area. 3. Ask each group to analyze and discuss the different effects of environmental injustice in the Boston metro area. Ask each group to come up with at least 3 practical steps that can be taken to reduce environmental injustices in the Boston metro area. 4. After each group has had a chance to discuss their ideas, come back together as a class and ask each group to present their findings.

Conclusion (20 minutes): 1. Recap the discussion and the activity by asking the students to explain what they learned about global climate change and environmental injustice in the Boston metro area. 2. Ask the students to list the practical steps they discussed which can be taken to reduce environmental injustices in the Boston metro area. 3. End the lesson by discussing the importance of taking action to address global climate change and environmental injustices in the Boston metro area. 4. Ask the students to brainstorm ideas of practical steps that they can take to help reduce environmental injustices in the Boston metro area.