Investigating Heat Islands
Launched in 2025, the heat islands module connects students with the latest local and national datasets on heat, linking science directly to their daily lives. Students investigate surface and air temperature patterns, explore how land cover and vegetation shape neighborhood hot spots, and consider the impacts of extreme heat on human health. Through five scaffolded lessons, they work with interactive maps and graphs, analyze heat-mapping data from across the United States, and watch videos featuring student experiences, citizen scientists, and researchers. By combining the most up-to-date data with hands-on tools, the module builds data literacy and empowers students to use evidence and engineering design to propose solutions that help keep communities cooler.
Related resources
Topics
- urban heat islands
- climate literacy
- environmental justice
- GIS mapping
- Landsat satellite data
- heat index
- albedo
- transpiration
- thermal mass
- land cover analysis
- community science
- climate resilience
- public health
- environmental engineering
- urban planning
- heat mapping campaigns
- sustainability
- severe weather
- Earth systems
- satellite imagery
- infrared radiation
- environmental data literacy
- engineering design challenge