In this lesson, students explore various impacts of landfills, learn about the environmental justice movement, and apply their learning to community action.

Step 1 - Inquire: Students learn about the decomposition rates of items commonly found in landfills and begin to discern issues landfills may cause.

Step 2 - Investigate: Students explore their local landfills, watch a video on the beginning of the environmental justice movement, and learn about environmental racism.

Step 3 - Inspire: Students learn about the federal environmental justice office and create a community awareness plan about landfills.