Climate Education Pathways: Allergy Pathway
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Provided by: BSCS Science Learning|Published on: October 16, 2024
Lesson Plans
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Synopsis
- In this six-lesson unit, students will learn about the worsening and early incidence of seasonal allergies in Michigan.
- Students will analyze social media posts and news headings, graph and interpret historical pollen spore data, read multiple sources to determine the cause for increased pollen, look at pollen under a microscope, create models to demonstrate how allergies work, and sum up their learning.
- This allergy section comes from a larger unit focusing on the future of Troy, Michigan.

Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: Climate Education Pathways, Rebecca Brewer and Emily Harris
Region: Southeast Michigan
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The initial lesson invites students to share their own experiences with seasonal allergies, increasing student connection and interest in the lesson.
- The inquiry-based nature of the unit will keep students engaged and contributing to the lesson.
Prerequisites
- Lesson 1.2 requires materials teachers may not have on hand, such as colored beads and stackable containers, and Lesson 1.4 requires microscopes and slides.
- Students should know how to use a microscope.
Differentiation & Implementation
- There are many opportunities for turning and talking and partner work throughout the lesson. Teachers can use strategic pairing to maximize student participation.
- The video showing the pollen season time-lapse in Lesson 1.3 goes fast. Teachers may need to show students how to slow the video playback speed.
- If teachers don't have a microscope for Lesson 1.4, there are magnified images of different types of pollen to use instead.
- After Lesson 1.6, teachers can easily transition into a lesson or unit about the causes of climate change with the question, "Why is it getting warmer?"
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
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