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

Redlining Practices of the 1930s Leading to the Effects of Extreme Heat Waves Today
Tracy Fields, Bellevue Community College
This assignment relates the redlining practices from the 1930s, the corresponding freeway placement in the 1950s through 1970s, and the marginalized communities that are disproportionately affected most by extreme heat waves due to these practices and subsequent freeway placement.

Clearing the Air through Climate Justice and Civic Engagement
Jessica Wang, Bellevue Community College

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.

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.

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.

Research Project on Pollutants in Sacrifice Zones for Chemistry Courses: The Role of Industry, Governments, Local Communities, and Scientists
Mandana Ehsanipour
Students learn about "Sacrifice Zones" in the United States, where neighboring communities are exposed to disproportionately high concentrations of toxic air pollutants, with a focus on petrochemicals. They learn about the health effects, as well as how communities impacted by the petrochemical industry can effect change and how scientists can act as allies. Students research a sacrifice zone and present it to the class, then post what they learned on social media.

Particulate Matter Impact on the Lungs and on Communities
Jason Fuller, Bellevue Community College
Students apply biology to a case study about the disproportionate effects of particulate matter pollution on people living in historically redlined areas. These issues are introduced with a scientific paper and popular news articles, after which students explore United States Environmental Protection Agency pollutant data and maps of historically redlined areas in a free online ArcGIS app. Students use what they have learned to talk with a family member or friend about these issues and to devise an action plan for protecting themselves and their communities from particulate matter pollution during wildfire smoke events.

Waste Not, Want Not: Food Waste and Recovery for Food Security
Jennifer Kovacs, Agnes Scott College
In this activity, students learn how our food systems affect the global climate and many other environmental issues and impacts related to food. Topics include carbon-neutral agriculture, farming for food accessibility and cultural relevance, food preservation, and how individuals and communities can reduce food waste while promoting food justice, food security, and equitable access to sustainably produced foods. After exploring two case studies of college students who engage civically to reduce food waste and work toward food justice on their campuses, students choose their own campus-based civic action from a list of options.

Transitioning to Renewable Fuels: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Grady Blacken, Bellevue Community College
Students are guided through research project design and implementation based on biodiesel production and usage. Handouts and basic protocols guide students through the project providing boundaries for time considerations and chemical usage while giving students enough freedom to explore their chosen independent and dependent variables.