NY High School Lesson Plans: Solving Local Problems

Students always want to know: who actually works on this stuff, and when am I going to use this? This collection of NY high school lesson plans answers both questions. NYC teachers wrote ten original lessons for NY teachers in partnership with Con Edison. Each one connects a high school subject to the real industries tackling New York's biggest climate challenges, like energy and infrastructure, public policy, and environmental justice. Every lesson uses current NY data and real city climate goals. Students analyze the same numbers city planners use, debate the same policy questions lawmakers are weighing, and see themselves in the careers shaping New York's future. The lessons span writing, social studies, algebra, statistics, chemistry, and government. Each one is ready to fit into what you're already teaching.

Created by Princess Lewis  ·  NY Teacher

This English Language Arts lesson for grades 9 to 12 has students explore the Love Canal disaster and Hurricane Sandy to understand how a lack of climate literacy affects communities, then apply what they learn to NYC transportation issues. Teachers can use it as a capstone for an argumentative writing unit, since students build toward a full evidence-based essay on whether climate literacy should be required coursework.

Created by Tonia Byrd Lee  ·  NY Teacher

Designed for grades 9 to 12 English Language Arts classrooms, this lesson introduces students to climate-related career paths and has them apply five ethical decision-making frameworks to real workplace dilemmas. It works well for a career readiness unit or as a structured debate activity, since students defend their positions before writing a final recommendation.

Created by Adrienne Vitiello  ·  NY Teacher

This grade 9 to 12 social studies lesson connects Industrial Revolution-era energy choices to today's climate challenges using historical and modern primary sources. Teachers can bring it into a world history or U.S. history unit on industrialization, with students producing a policy brief that proposes solutions to current energy problems.

Created by Amy Lee, Sol Giesso  ·  NY Teacher

Built for AP-level math students in grades 11 and 12, this calculus lesson has students calculate and interpret derivatives using authentic, data-driven climate datasets like CO2 emissions, Arctic sea ice, or NY temperature and sea level data. It's a strong fit for a derivatives unit, since students work in groups to turn their calculations into an IPCC-style report aimed at policymakers.

Created by Amy Lee, Sol Giesso  ·  NY Teacher

This AP-level math lesson for grades 11 and 12 asks students to use definite integrals and regression models to measure NYC's cumulative greenhouse gas emissions against the city's climate targets. Teachers can slot it into an integrals unit as a practical, current real-world application, with students writing a report evaluating how well NYC is meeting its climate goals.

Created by John Grant  ·  NY Teacher

This civics and government lesson for grade 12 has students examine how federal, state, and local governments respond to climate-related disasters and their rising costs. It fits naturally into a government unit on policy analysis, with students comparing policies across levels of government and drafting a policy memo with meaningful, real-world civic engagement recommendations.

Created by Julie Santaniello, Sol Giesso  ·  NY Teacher

Suited for grades 9 to AP math classrooms, this statistics lesson has students analyze real food transportation and waste data using measures like mean, median, and box plots to understand the climate impact of feeding NYC. Teachers can use it during a statistics unit, since students apply their data analysis to recommend an emissions reduction strategy for a supermarket.

Created by Joel Commendador  ·  NY Teacher

This lesson plan teaches students in grades 9 through 12 to balance combustion reaction equations and examine how the resulting CO2 emissions affect the climate. Teachers can use it to connect stoichiometry practice with a look at careers like energy auditor or home performance consultant.

Created by Sehreta McFarlane-Taylor, Sol Giesso  ·  NY Teacher

Coming Soon!

Created by Monique Harris  ·  NY Teacher

Coming Soon!

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1. Are these NYC high school lesson plans free to use? Yes. Every lesson in this collection is free to download and use in your classroom, with no account or purchase required.

2. Who wrote these lesson plans? These high school lesson plans were written by NYC teachers, for NYC teachers, so each lesson reflects real classroom experience and local context.

3. What subjects and grade levels does this collection cover? This NYC lesson plan collection spans 10 subjects, including writing, social studies, government, chemistry, science, and math courses like algebra, statistics, derivatives, and integrals, with most lessons designed for grades 9 through 12.

4. Can I adapt these lessons for my classroom? Yes. Each lesson can be adjusted to fit your students' needs, your pacing, and your specific curriculum, and many include teaching tips to help with modifications.

5. Are these lessons aligned to standards and reviewed for accuracy? Yes. Each lesson is scientist-reviewed for accuracy and designed to align with relevant content standards, so you can feel confident using it in your classroom.

Whether you're building out a full unit or looking for a single high-quality resource to drop into an existing lesson, these NYC high school lesson plans are just the start. Visit the New York Climate Education Hub to explore hundreds of additional standards-aligned lessons, activities, and resources for NYC teachers, covering every subject and grade level. Bookmark the hub and check back often as new resources are added throughout the school year.