Provided by: EPA |Published on: September 22, 2021
Videos Grades 6-8, 9-12
Synopsis
In this activity, students will complete a step-by-step worksheet that will show them how to use the EnviroAtlas.
The EnviroAtlas is an interactive map of the United States that provides data on a variety of environmental topics, such as carbon storage, pollutants, and energy potential.
The lesson plan and student handout provide a step-by-step guide on using the interactive maps.
The activity is hands-on and will keep the students engaged.
Data provided in the Webquest tool includes demographics, ecological boundaries, pollution sources and impacts, ecosystem services and biodiversity, and time series layers.
Prerequisites
Teachers should spend some time going through the steps on the worksheet before using it with students.
Students will need computers, Internet access, and printouts of the handouts.
Teachers may want to pair students who need assistance with students who are facile with technology.
Differentiation & Implementation
Advanced students could form a hypothesis about the correlation between two layers and then use the EnviroAtlas to see if the data supports the hypothesis.
Students could use the EnviroAtlas to research information about the local community and present the information using a slideshow, a podcast, or a video.