EcoRise's Introduction to Environmental Justice lessons creates a foundation for students' understanding of environmental justice (EJ) history and concepts.

Through in-depth, differentiated units, elementary, middle, and high school students learn that harming the environment is an example of unkind behavior and that people of color are disproportionately impacted by environmental problems.

Each lesson facilitates the exploration of how kindness, compassion, and empathy can contribute to repairing damage caused by racist behaviors, policies, and systems. Students will take a close look at leaders and events that helped form the EJ movement and discuss how they can help dismantle/counteract the damage caused by systemic racism. They explore examples of EJ Heroes—activists who have addressed environmental justice problems in their communities—and begin exploring strategies they can implement to become EJ heroes, too.

Start including these lessons in your classroom by visiting: EcoRise's Introduction to Environmental Justice