I Dream of Green

Positives

• This seven-page project guide is ready to use and is an excellent framework for getting students engaged in improving their community. 
• The stories, graphics, and links add to the richness of the resource and will engage students easily. 

Additional Prerequisites

• A glossary provides domain-specific vocabulary that will be helpful for students. 
• This resource is suggested for urban or suburban schools, but rural schools may find it valuable as well.
• To complete the project, the class will have to reach out to community leaders and local businesses. Teachers should make sure that contact information is available and that students have permission to contact people outside of their school. 

Differentiation

• Science classes could use this project as a follow-up activity to a lesson or discussion on the importance of green spaces, urban heat islands, and environmental justice. 
• This activity lends itself best to a whole class project. Larger classes could consider creating groups to tackle each section of the project. 
• As an extension, have students record their work on this project and turn it into a persuasive piece to convince people to plant more trees in their communities. 
• Other related resources include this animated video about what would happen if we cut down all the trees in a city, this interactive tool that tracks environmental and demographic indicators, and this interactive map that provides a tree equity score.