Taking Action

Lesson Plans

Grades4, 5, 6, 7, 8Biology, Civics, English Language Arts

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by Alliance for the Great Lakes

Open Resource

What it is

In this lesson, students will look at sample datasets of environmental conditions at a beach (such as the amount of litter, presence of bacteria, weather conditions, and number of beach-goers), use them to identify an issue, and then craft an action plan to address it.
Students will take on the role of city officials and present their problem and solutions using the data to support their decision.

Teaching tips

Prerequisites:

The lesson materials note the Garbage Investigation and Beach Mysteries as prerequisites to this lesson but students should be able to do this lesson without difficulty on its own.
Consider defining the terms in the vocabulary section ahead of time. English language learners may also need to know the definition of waste as it is used in this lesson.
Review the rubric included in the full K-8 booklet on page 311.

Extensions:

Students who live near a beach (or park) collect their own data and come up with solutions to real problems in their area. They can also present it to city officials to give their writing/speaking an authentic purpose.
This is part of a larger curriculum that has many great resources available.

Interdisciplinary Connections

Math:
- Use the data to make line graphs that show trends between two data groups (for example, number of beach-goers in relation to the amount of litter).
Language Arts:
- Students use persuasive writing/speaking techniques to improve their initial presentations.
Science:
- Discuss the effect that animal waste or overflowing sewers can have on the health of beach-goers, aquatic ecosystems, rivers, and lakes.

Differentiation:

Use strategic grouping to ensure that each group has a strong public speaker and a strong data interpreter.

From the scientist review

This resource contains a lesson plan for an activity where students analyze observed data and make plans to address a problem they observed. In the activity, students pretend they are helping a local middle school analyze data collected from a local beach. The middle school collected data about litter and E. coli at these beaches and would like to help the beaches make a change based on their data. This activity provides students with a chance to observe, think, and make conclusions like scientists do, while they also think about the environment and what can be done to help with pollution around the great lakes. The lesson plan includes all needed information and has links if more resources are needed. This resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Subjects: Biology, Civics, English Language Arts
Other types: Activity - Classroom, Worksheets
Format: PDF
Language: English
Location: Earth, North America > United States > Wisconsin
Provider: Alliance for the Great Lakes
Authors: Alliance for the Great Lakes
Published: July 20, 2023
Last updated: October 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · D2.Civ.11.6-8 + 15 more

Core

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards

D2.Civ.11.6-8Differentiate among procedures for making decisions in the classroom, school, civil society, and local, state, and national government in terms of how civic purposes are intended.
D2.Civ.13.6-8Analyze the purposes, implementation, and consequences of public policies in multiple settings.
D2.Civ.11.3-5Compare procedures for making decisions in a variety of settings, including classroom, school, government, and/or society.
D2.Civ.13.3-5Explain how policies are developed to address public problems.
D3.4.3-5Use evidence to develop claims in response to compelling questions.

Oregon Climate Education Hub

English Language Arts

4.SL.1Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
4.SL.4Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
5.SL.1Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
5.SL.4Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
6.SL.1Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
6.SL.4Present claims and/or findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
7.SL.1Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
7.SL.4Present claims and/or findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with pertinent descriptions, facts, details, and examples; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
8.SL.1Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Science

3.ETS1.1Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
5.ESS3.1Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.

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Teaching tips

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