In this lesson, students compare and contrast emissions from different modes of transportation and explore the concept of transportation planning. 

Step 1 - Inquire: Students analyze a bar graph of carbon dioxide emissions by different modes of transportation and calculate the most environmentally conscious modes of travel based on emissions.

Step 2 - Investigate: Students analyze commuter survey results of the top concerns with public transportation and complete real-world math problems based on different transportation scenarios, calculating the difference in carbon emission outputs.

Step 3 - Inspire: Students learn about transportation planners and watch a video about Hong Kong's transit system.

Positives

• This lesson builds upon students' understanding of place in the world and the impact of individual lifestyle choices.
• It features relevant real-world math problems.
• It offers career path integration in the sector of transportation planning and transit.
• Students creatively brainstorm solutions for real-world issues and civil concerns.

Additional Prerequisites

• This is lesson 2 of 6 in our 3rd-5th grade Green Transportation unit.
• Students should have knowledge of reading a bar graph and a basic understanding of interpreting data.
• If students do not have background knowledge of their community's public transportation systems, they should be appropriately introduced to the basics of how buses, metros, and railways work.
• The graph in the Inquire section uses the unit CO₂e to measure emissions from different modes of transportation. CO₂e stands for carbon dioxide equivalent, which is the measure of the impact of all greenhouse gases in terms of the amount of CO₂ that would create the same amount of warming. For the purpose of this lesson and the age of the learners, it is probably best to just use the terms “carbon dioxide” and “CO₂.”
  

Differentiation

• There can be number-set choices for math problems available for different abilities and skill sets.
• Students can work in pairs or small groups.

This lesson asks students to investigate the amount of carbon emitted by different forms of transportation. The numbers used for the calculations are backed by peer-reviewed science, and the methodologies come from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This lesson has passed our scientific review process.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.

Supporting Standards

• Mathematics
  • Measurement & Data (K-5)
    • 4.MD.A.2 Use the four operations to solve word problems involving distances, intervals of time, liquid volumes, masses of objects, and money, including problems involving simple fractions or decimals, and problems that require expressing measurements given in a larger unit in terms of a smaller unit. Represent measurement quantities using diagrams such as number line diagrams that feature a measurement scale.
• Science
  • ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
    • 4-ESS3-1. Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and that their uses affect the environment.
    • 5-ESS3-1. Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.