Students investigate a local environmental problem through repeated fieldwork, scientific research, and calculus-based modeling to build an evidence-based explanation and propose a practical action that creates a measurable positive difference. Working in collaborative teams with community partners, they document change across local sites, revise their thinking through critique and reflection, and connect science, math, art, and fabrication into public-facing products. The learning experience culminates in a community day of action, framed visual installations with QR-linked data and resources, and an exhibition where students share both their futuristic narratives and the real-world impact of their work.

Students will investigate a local environmental problem at partner sites, document and analyze field evidence, and use that evidence to explain causes, impacts, and tradeoffs in possible solutions aligned to HS-ESS3-4, HS-LS2-7, and HS-ETS1-2. They will apply calculus to authentic environmental data by creating visualizations, using regression and rates of change to model trends, interpreting limits in relation to thresholds or carrying capacity, and using derivatives and integrals to analyze change over time and affected area. Students will design, test, revise, and communicate a practical action plan through posters, framed visual storytelling, QR-linked data/resources, and a public Day of Action and exhibition for families and community partners. Across the semester, students will strengthen collaboration, critique and revision, reflection, and self-direction by working in teams, responding to feedback on multiple drafts, and evaluating the measurable results of their action.

Students will create field notebooks, “Dear Data” style visualizations, site maps, function/regression models, derivative and accumulation graphics, and short evidence briefs that explain a chosen local environmental problem using data from weekly field trips and partner interviews. In teams, they will produce revised drafts of a sci-fi framed visual scene, risograph posters/flyers for the community Day of Action, and QR-linked digital pages that share datasets, calculus representations, research sources, and proposed solutions. By the end, students will present the final wooden-framed dystopian image, a public-facing call-to-action campaign, documented results from the Day of Action, and an exhibition presentation that explains what practical action made or could make a measurable difference.

Kick off with a one-day “future field lab” across the four partner sites, where student teams rotate through rapid data-collection challenges, short ranger/volunteer briefings, and photo/documentation tasks that capture signs of environmental change. Back on campus, teams create a same-day mini “Dear Data” visualization and a quick sci-fi snapshot showing what their site could look like in 25 years if nothing changes, then share initial claims about what problem they think is most urgent. End with a gallery walk of partner-based evidence, a reveal of the essential question, and team formation into three-person crews that will carry the project through fieldwork, critique, revision, the Day of Action, and exhibition.

Hold a public Day of Action at one field site with families, community members, and partners from Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego River Org, Ocean Beach lifeguards, and Famosa Slough, where each 3-person team leads a small action station, explains its evidence, and gathers simple before/after measures. Follow with a school exhibition featuring the framed dystopian-future images, risograph flyers, and revised calculus/environmental science data stories, with QR codes linking to field data, models, partner resources, and reflection on impact after the action day. Invite partners to give feedback on feasibility, measurable difference, and tradeoffs, and have students present how their explanation and solution changed through at least two rounds of critique and revision. If possible, place a traveling mini-exhibit of selected frames and QR-linked posters at a partner site or community space so the work reaches audiences beyond campus.