Breaking Down OneNYC
Lesson Plans
Grades7, 8, 9, 10Civics, English Language Arts, Engineering
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by New York DEP
What it is
- This lesson plan provides a path for students to learn about OneNYC, a climate action plan for New York City, and then create a model climate action plan at the local level.
- As a whole-class project, students will design a digital survey relating to climate issues and solutions, collect data from the survey and use it to write improvement goals and plans, and present their write-ups to stakeholders.
Teaching tips
Positives
- Having the purpose of improving their school promotes student buy-in and gives their work concrete meaning.
- This project-based lesson will keep students engaged, and small-group and whole-group collaboration will foster a sense of community among students.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students may need more vocabulary words defined than are provided in the vocabulary list.
- Students should already have a basic knowledge of climate change.
- If using Survey Monkey or Google Forms, ensure students are familiar with these tools.
- Students should understand how to use spreadsheets to organize data.
Differentiation
- English teachers can have students read the report for OneNYC, annotate with highlighters, and summarize the document.
- English teachers can also utilize the lesson to teach digital literacy since part of the activity involves designing a digital survey and spreadsheet.
- Social Studies teachers can include this resource as part of a larger unit on international climate policy since there are links to the Paris Agreement and the United States Climate Alliance.
- SEL teachers can use goal-setting as it relates to city planning as a starting point for a personal goal-setting activity, and it can connect to climate change solutions at the household level.
- Civics teachers can relate the lesson to civic responsibility at the local level and also have students research local sustainability laws.
- Teachers utilizing the mock press conference strategy for the presentation can collaborate with journalism classes or the school's newspaper.
- Students who speak more than one language can be responsible for creating or translating the survey for ELL students.
From the scientist review
This resource from the NYC Department of Environmental Protection aids students in understanding the OneNYC 2050 plan before tasking them to engage their school community and create OneNYC for the school. The linked OneNYC 2050 summary presents the city’s goals and provides a framework for students to organize their surveys. The OneNYC 2050 plan is a broad vision, requiring teachers to ensure students stay climate-focused by introducing the discussion questions before they begin their work. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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Hosted on nyc.gov
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