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🌍 Weeks 29-31: Environmental Monitoring

Unit Overview
Grade Level Grades 5-6
Duration 3 sessions (45 min each)
Curriculum Year B
STREAM Focus S (Science), T (Technology), M (Math - Data), R (Religion)

Weeks 29-31: Environmental Monitoring

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Collect environmental data systematically 2. Use technology for environmental monitoring 3. Analyze data to identify patterns 4. Propose evidence-based solutions

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Apply Laudato Si' to environmental action 2. See data as tool for stewardship 3. Combine science and faith for creation care

Weeks 29-31: Environmental Monitoring

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Laudato Si' in Action — Pope Francis calls us to care for our common home. Environmental monitoring is how we understand the problems. Data becomes a tool for justice and stewardship.

Scripture Connection

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." — Genesis 2:15

Faith Theme

Stewardship through Science — Good stewards need good information. Environmental monitoring gives us the data to make wise decisions. Science serves creation care!

📚 Materials Needed

Week 29

  • Environmental sensors (if available)

  • Data collection templates

  • Mapping tools

  • Research materials

  • Laudato Si' excerpts

Week 30

  • Computers for data analysis

  • Graphing software

  • Statistical tools

  • Research databases

Week 31

  • Presentation materials

  • Action plan templates

  • Community connection resources

📝 Week 29 Procedure: Environmental Data Collection (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Creator God, help us care for Your creation! Give us wisdom to understand our environment and courage to protect it. May our data serve Your world. Amen."

Environmental Monitoring Introduction (10 min)

Why monitor the environment?

Key concept: "You can't manage what you don't measure."

What scientists monitor:

  • Air quality

  • Water quality

  • Temperature/climate

  • Biodiversity

  • Noise levels

  • Light pollution

  • Soil health

Why it matters:

  • Identify problems

  • Track changes over time

  • Measure impact of solutions

  • Provide evidence for action

Laudato Si' connection:

"Each year sees the disappearance of thousands of plant and animal species... The great majority become extinct for reasons related to human activity." (LS 33)

"We can't protect what we don't understand. Data is essential for stewardship!"

Choose Monitoring Focus (8 min)

Select environmental aspect:

Options:

  • School energy use

  • Local air quality

  • Water usage/quality

  • Waste generation

  • Biodiversity (species present)

  • Noise/light pollution

  • Green space

For each option:

  • What data can we collect?

  • What tools do we have?

  • How long should we monitor?

  • What might we discover?

Teams form around interests

Data Collection Planning (15 min)

Design monitoring protocol:

Protocol elements: 1. What are we measuring? 2. Where are we measuring? 3. When (frequency)? 4. How (methods/tools)? 5. Who collects data? 6. How do we record it?

Example protocols:

Energy Monitoring:

  • Read electrical meter daily

  • Record at same time

  • Note weather and events

  • Calculate usage patterns

Biodiversity Survey:

  • Define observation area

  • Set regular observation times

  • Use identification guides

  • Record species and counts

Water Quality:

  • Collect samples consistently

  • Test for pH, temperature, clarity

  • Note precipitation and runoff

  • Track over weeks

Waste Audit:

  • Weigh/sort trash daily

  • Categorize (recycle, compost, landfill)

  • Calculate averages

  • Identify reduction opportunities

Create data collection sheet:

  • Clear categories

  • Easy to complete

  • Includes date/time/collector

  • Space for notes

Begin Data Collection (8 min)

Start your monitoring:

  • Collect first data point

  • Test your protocol

  • Note any issues

  • Adjust as needed

Assign ongoing collection:

  • Who collects when?

  • Where is data stored?

  • How do we ensure consistency?

Closing (2 min)

Homework:

  • Collect data according to protocol

  • Continue through next week

  • Note observations and questions

Closing Prayer: "Thank You for the gift of Your creation, Lord! Help us be faithful stewards who understand and protect our environment. May our data lead to action. Amen."

📝 Week 30 Procedure: Data Analysis (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Lord, give us wisdom to understand our data. Help us see patterns that guide our stewardship. Amen."

Data Compilation (10 min)

Gather your data:

Compile:

  • Collect all recorded data

  • Enter into spreadsheet

  • Check for errors

  • Organize chronologically

Data cleaning:

  • Remove obvious errors

  • Note any gaps

  • Standardize format

  • Calculate any needed conversions

Data Analysis (20 min)

Find patterns and insights:

Analysis techniques:

Descriptive statistics:

  • Mean (average)

  • Range (high to low)

  • Trends over time

Visualizations:

  • Line graphs (change over time)

  • Bar graphs (comparisons)

  • Pie charts (proportions)

  • Maps (spatial patterns)

Questions to answer:

  • What patterns do you see?

  • Any surprising findings?

  • How does this compare to standards?

  • What might be causing patterns?

Create at least 2 visualizations:

  • Choose most meaningful data

  • Clear labels and titles

  • Accurate representation

  • Visual appeal

Research Context (8 min)

Compare to broader data:

Research:

  • How does our data compare to regional/national?

  • What are environmental standards?

  • What do experts say about our findings?

  • What solutions are recommended?

Connect to Laudato Si':

  • How does our data relate to Pope Francis' concerns?

  • What does Catholic teaching say about our findings?

  • What responsibility do we have?

Closing (5 min)

Prepare for action:

  • What does data suggest we should do?

  • Who needs to see this?

  • What solutions could we propose?

Next week:

  • Present findings

  • Propose action plans

  • Connect to community

Closing Prayer: "Thank You for insights from our data, Lord! Help us act on what we've learned. Amen."

📝 Week 31 Procedure: Action & Presentation (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Lord, help us move from knowledge to action! May our presentations inspire others to care for creation. Amen."

Action Plan Development (15 min)

Turn data into action:

Action plan components:

1. Summary of Findings

  • Key data points

  • Main patterns

  • Comparison to standards

2. Root Cause Analysis

  • Why is this happening?

  • What factors contribute?

  • What's within our control?

3. Recommended Actions

  • Short-term (this month)

  • Medium-term (this year)

  • Long-term (ongoing)

4. Implementation Plan

  • Who does what?

  • What resources needed?

  • How do we track progress?

5. Faith Connection

  • How does this honor creation?

  • What does Laudato Si' say?

  • How is this our responsibility?

Presentation Preparation (10 min)

Create presentation:

Include:

  • Problem overview

  • Data visualizations

  • Key findings

  • Catholic teaching connection

  • Action recommendations

  • Call to action for audience

Prepare for:

  • Questions

  • Challenges

  • Next steps

Presentations (15 min)

Share findings and proposals:

Each team presents (4-5 min):

  • Data summary

  • Key visualizations

  • Analysis and findings

  • Action recommendations

  • Faith connection

Audience:

  • Ask questions

  • Offer support

  • Commit to actions

Commitment & Closing (3 min)

Class commitment: "Based on our findings, we commit to..."

Individual commitments: Each student: "I will..."

Next steps:

  • Share with school administration?

  • Present to parish?

  • Implement recommendations?

  • Continue monitoring?

Closing Prayer: "Creator God, thank You for helping us understand Your creation better! Thank You for the gift of data that guides our stewardship. Help us act on what we've learned. May we be faithful caretakers of our common home. Give us courage to speak for creation and wisdom to make changes that matter. St. Francis, lover of creation, pray for us! Amen."

📎 Home Connection

"We completed Environmental Monitoring! Ask your child: 'What environmental data did you collect?' 'What did you discover?' 'What actions did you recommend?' 'How does this connect to Laudato Si'?' Consider family environmental actions — what can you measure and improve at home?"

✅ Assessment

  • Collected environmental data systematically

  • Analyzed data accurately

  • Created meaningful visualizations

  • Proposed evidence-based action plan

Lesson Version: 1.0 — Year B | **