Activity Collection



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Environmental Studies
Local Community/Watershed

Results 1 - 10 of 51 matches

Rethinking Sustainability Through the Humanities: Multi-Sensory Experience and Environmental Encounter Beyond the Classroom
Jennifer Atkinson, University of Washington-Bothell Campus
This assignment pairs studies in environmental humanities with outdoor activity. Students complete a "field excursion" (gardening, hiking, environmental restoration) and reflect on sensory experiences involved in that activity to critique rationalist traditions/Cartesian legacies in their education more broadly.

Bioregion Discipline: English, Environmental Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies
Bioregion Scale: Home/Backyard, Campus, Local Community/Watershed
Bioregion Topical Vocabulary: Ethics & Values, Sustainability Concepts & Practices, Sense of Place

Justice, Power, and Activism: What the Goldman Environmental Prize Winners Teach Us About Resilience and Democracy
Jason Lambacher, University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
This activity is a set of student-centered exercises that enable students to learn about the individual stories of Goldman environmental prize winners, the activism and organizing that grounds their work, and the underlying political and social contexts from which their struggles emerge. The lesson inspires critical reflection about justice, power, and democracy in green politics, and encourages ways to make personal connections to activism and environmental work.

Bioregion Discipline: Anthropology, Oceanography/Marine Studies, Environmental Studies, Geography, History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Communication, Economics, Business/Management, Other, Sociology, Interdisciplinary Studies, Political Science/Policy
Bioregion Scale: Local Community/Watershed, Global, Campus
Bioregion Topical Vocabulary: Social & Environmental Justice, Sense of Place, Promising Pedagogies:Reflective & Contemplative Practice, Case Studies, Food Systems & Agriculture, Water & Watersheds, Energy, Ethics & Values, Human Impact & Footprint, Climate Change, Lifestyles & Consumption, Promising Pedagogies:Civic Engagement & Service Learning, Human Health & Wellbeing, Natural Resources, Pollution & Waste, Sustainability Concepts & Practices, Future Studies & Visioning, Civil Society & Governance

Blogging about Nature and Politics: A Weekly Journal Activity for Building Resilient and Active Students
David Spataro, Bellevue Community College

Bioregion Discipline: Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies, Environmental Studies, Political Science/Policy, Geography, Sociology, Philosophy
Bioregion Scale: Campus, Local Community/Watershed, Home/Backyard
Bioregion Topical Vocabulary: Climate Justice, Promising Pedagogies:Reflective & Contemplative Practice, Lifestyles & Consumption, Human Health & Wellbeing, Civil Society & Governance, Climate Change, Sense of Place, Sustainability Concepts & Practices, Ethics & Values, Social & Environmental Justice

Afghan Poppies, Climate Change and War: Thinking Systemically About Us and Them
Karen Litfin, University of Washington-Seattle Campus
This contemplative practice inquires into the complex web of interdependencies linking global climate change, the War on Terror, Afghan poppy production, opiate addiction, and food security through the lens of systems theory. The exercise challenges students to consider these linkages not only conceptually but also somatically and emotionally.

Bioregion Discipline: Anthropology, Economics, Communication, Sociology, Philosophy, Political Science/Policy, Geography, Interdisciplinary Studies, Environmental Studies
Bioregion Scale: Global, National/Continental, Local Community/Watershed
Bioregion Topical Vocabulary: Civil Society & Governance, Human Impact & Footprint, Promising Pedagogies:Reflective & Contemplative Practice, Civic Engagement & Service Learning, Future Studies & Visioning, Sustainability Concepts & Practices, Promising Pedagogies:Case Studies, Cultures & Religions, Food Systems & Agriculture, Ethics & Values, Pollution & Waste, Natural Resources, Climate Change, Social & Environmental Justice, Human Health & Wellbeing, Lifestyles & Consumption, Cycles & Systems

Interdisciplinary Problem-Solving Project for the Science Classroom
Liliana Caughman
Students are assigned unique roles and work independently to solve a complex problem from the perspective of their role (i.e. sociologist, educator, historian, etc.) Students then work collaboratively to present their findings and action plan to the "tribal council".

Bioregion Discipline: Anthropology, Oceanography/Marine Studies, Sociology, Political Science/Policy, Environmental Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, Communication, Geography, Geoscience, Prof/Tech Field, English
Bioregion Scale: Campus, Local Community/Watershed
Bioregion Topical Vocabulary: Food Systems & Agriculture, Natural Resources, Lifestyles & Consumption, Human Impact & Footprint, Pollution & Waste, Promising Pedagogies:Case Studies, Social & Environmental Justice, Sustainability Concepts & Practices, Sense of Place, Civil Society & Governance, Ethics & Values, Ecosystem Health

Sustainability Daily Practice
Greg Gordon, Gonzaga University
The Daily Practice is an ongoing assignment that asks students to make a lifestyle change that contributes to environmental sustainability.

Bioregion Discipline: Environmental Studies
Bioregion Scale: Campus, Home/Backyard, Local Community/Watershed
Bioregion Topical Vocabulary: Human Impact & Footprint, Climate Change, Ethics & Values, Sustainability Concepts & Practices, Promising Pedagogies:Reflective & Contemplative Practice, Lifestyles & Consumption

Don't move a mussel: Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis for detecting aquatic invasive species
Angela Strecker, Western Washington University
Students will learn field sampling and laboratory techniques to utilize environmental DNA (eDNA) as an early detection tool for invasive or rare species, with a focus on zebra mussels.

Bioregion Discipline: Biology, Environmental Studies
Bioregion Scale: Local Community/Watershed, Regional
Bioregion Topical Vocabulary: Natural Resources, Ecosystem Health, Water & Watersheds

The Impacts of Climate Change on x̌əpayac (Western Redcedar) and the Social Justice Implications for Indigenous Culture
Kristen Harrison, Tacoma Community College
Students use botany to explore how cedar trees are affected by climate change and the cultural importance of these trees to local indigenous peoples. As part of a field-based laboratory experience, students participate in a citizen science project that involves collecting data about cedar trees. The activity ends with a civic engagement experience designed and carried out by students to demonstrate how scientists can share their work with the public and with policymakers to address issues of concern to society.

Bioregion Discipline: Environmental Studies, Biology, Indigenous Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies
Bioregion Scale: Home/Backyard, Campus, Local Community/Watershed
Bioregion Topical Vocabulary: Cultures & Religions, Climate Justice, Social & Environmental Justice, Climate Change

Using Case Studies, Mind mapping, and Social Media to Explore Climate Justice and Build Science Communication Skills
Woody Moses, Highline Community College
Students engage in a mind mapping activity about climate gentrification in Miami to learn about climate justice as well as how the climate systems and human systems interact with each other. Students then identify their own climate justice issue and complete an annotated bibliography of climate justice case studies related to that issue to prepare a post for Instagram. The activity ends with a final case study about the Lummi nation, who were able to effect change through a lawsuit against coal trains.

Bioregion Discipline: Oceanography/Marine Studies, Environmental Studies
Bioregion Scale: Global, Local Community/Watershed, Campus
Bioregion Topical Vocabulary: Promising Pedagogies:Civic Engagement & Service Learning, Case Studies, Cycles & Systems, Social & Environmental Justice, Climate Justice, Climate Change

Spatial Inequities of Heat Impacts in Portland Oregon: Examining Climate Justice Solutions through Civic Engagement in Environmental Science
Taryn Oakley, Portland Community College
This environmental science project introduces students to inequities caused by climate change, specifically how redlined neighborhoods in cities experience disproportionately higher temperatures than other areas of the city. Students explore ways that this climate justice issue can be addressed, with a focus on tree planting, and engage civically through public outreach by designing and creating buttons used as a conversation starter to share what they've learned with their community.

Bioregion Discipline: Environmental Studies
Bioregion Scale: Local Community/Watershed
Bioregion Topical Vocabulary: Climate Justice, Social & Environmental Justice