Understanding whether water is clean or polluted requires more than just what the naked eye can see and therefore gives educators like you the opportunity to dive into chemistry with students!

In this lesson students will learn about the way pollutants are introduced into the water cycle and how these pollutants can impact ecosystems and human health. They will then learn how to perform water quality testing on several water samples, identifying the sources of contamination. Students will also learn how green space, specifically street trees in urban areas can be used to reduce contamination events in local ecosystems.

In this lesson, students will survey vacant lots in their area and consider how they may be transformed into a space that supports resistant and migratory wildlife and the needs of their community.

Green space is a necessary part of any community, especially in urban areas where plants are often thought of as ornamental. Thoughtful design of green space can help support native and migratory biodiversity, address food insecurity, benefit our mental and physical health, and create spaces for recreation and learning.

This is activity 2 of 3 in the "Design a Park" module from City Parks Foundation.

This lesson aims to explore how sustainable landscaping can be used to strengthen vulnerable habitats.

Robust plant cover provided by parks and other green spaces provide a number of ecosystem services, including protection against soil erosion and stormwater capture. In thinking about ways to combat the effects of climate change, green infrastructure and sustainable landscaping should be at the top of everyone's list! In many places around the world, including New York, climate change effects include increased rainfall and storm surges.