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Why Lawns Must Die

Provided by: Our Changing Climate |Published on: April 27, 2021

Videos Grades 9-12

Synopsis

This video from Our Changing Climate provides historical context about lawns, the many ways that lawn maintenance can be damaging to our planet, and the ways that lawns are now regulated.
The topics covered in the video include colonialism, conformity, classism, insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers, gas-powered lawnmowers, non-native grasses, monocultures, and water waste.

Subjects: Biology, History

Authors: Our Changing Climate

Region: Europe, United States

Languages: English

Positives

This video brings up valuable content that is typically overlooked, especially given that there are more acres of grass than corn grown in the United States.
Students may also be surprised to learn how much water, fertilizer, and pesticides are sprayed onto lawns each year.

Prerequisites

The video content ends at 9 minutes, 26 seconds. The last segment is an advertisement.
You may have to sit through commercials to view the video.

Differentiation & Implementation

Science classes can use this video as a hook to discuss the nitrogen cycle, water ecosystems, eutrophication, biodiversity loss, and land use changes.
Social studies and civics classes can discuss new regulations that could prevent HOAs and cities from mandating lawns and lawn maintenance.
Economics classes can discuss the financial impacts of regulations that require residents to maintain lawns with chemicals, equipment, and water.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.