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"MiEJScreen" Environmental Justice Screening Tool

Provided by: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) |Published on: December 18, 2024

Graphs/Tables

9101112AP

Synopsis

This interactive map displays a score for various census tracts in Michigan that takes into account various environmental pollutants, health conditions, and socioeconomic indicators to allow students to investigate the geographic relationships between them.
Students can use the map to easily locate their current location, a specific address, or a census tract of interest and then add various data layers to the map to investigate specific ecological or social studies questions.
Comparison tools allow students to see data sets side-by-side and look for relationships.

Subjects: Biology, Geography

Authors: EGLE

Region: Michigan

Languages: English

Positives

The website includes indicator descriptions so students can easily access this necessary background information.
The tool has a user guide and recordings of demonstrations are available, so teachers and students can easily learn how to use the tool for the desired purpose.

Prerequisites

Students will need to have computers and an Internet connection to access the tool.
Students may be personally affected by some of the indicators listed, and teachers should be sensitive to this.
Teachers should explore how to use the tool in advance and be ready to guide students in how to use it.
To read the executive summary, teachers will need to log into the Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

Differentiation & Implementation

In any class, this tool can be used to have conversations about environmental and climate justice.
In a health class, students can use this tool to investigate the relationship between environmental health and personal health.
In a social studies class, students can use this tool to look at the effects of past policies like redlining on the health outcomes of people today.
In a science or geography class, students can use this tool to investigate the sources of various pollutants that affect human health and the environment.
The tool includes a lot of information and may be overwhelming and/or confusing for students to use without guidance, so consider going through examples together and then have students work in pairs to complete specific investigations.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

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Resource Type and Format