Climate Justice, Life Expectancy, and Gender Disparities in Intermediate Algebra
Tatiana Mihaylova, Bellevue Community College
After an introduction to climate justice and life expectancy, students complete a two-part project. For the first part of the project, students use life expectancy data and plots using the Cartesian coordinate system to make conclusions about the impact of climate change on health and longevity and to explore gender differences. For the second part of the project, students continue to practice math skills, and also practice math communication and build their math literacy, by engaging civically through conversation about the first part of their project, as well as how they can take action to support gender equity through family planning and education for women and girls as a way to address climate change.

Exploring Sea Level Rise in Algebra and Pre-Calculus: Learning About Affected Communities, Creating Mathematical Models, and Practicing Mathematical Communication Skills
Mathi Radhakrishnan, Bellevue Community College
Students begin this activity by learning how communities in Bangladesh are affected by melting glaciers and sea level rise, as well as why these phenomena are happening as a result of global climate change. They complete a modeling activity by collecting sea level height data from an interactive map, using linear regression to fit a mathematical model to the data, and reflecting on the accuracy of their model, as well as climate change models in general, by doing calculations with their regression equation. The activity ends when they present their models and have a conversation, with a person who is not a mathematician or familiar with mathematical models, about how models are sometimes misused to create an illusion of uncertainty about humankind's contribution to climate change.