Tragedy of the Commons

Case Studies & Local Topics

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Short-Term Case Studies

  • School's Carbon Footprint Framingham, MA Carbon footprint
    • 8th grade students first: researched how to reduce their excess carbon footprint at school.
    • Students then: presented findings to the Board of Trustees with specific solutions for the next three years.
    • Final outcome: switch to LED bulbs, replace old HVAC system, then replace the roof to install solar panels.
  • Cleaning the Air St. Paul, Minnesota Air pollutants
    • 9-12th grade students first: did field work about the environment and pollution specific to air quality.
    • Students then: created a video music public service announcement, focusing on inclusion of all abilities during this process.
    • Final outcome: a successful PSA that can be found on a music site.

Long-Term Case Studies

  • School Energy Audit (detail) Springfield, MA Carbon footprint
    • 9th grade students first: ran an energy audit of 4 elementary schools to reduce their excess carbon footprint.
    • Students then: created and presented a report to city officials showing inefficiencies and solutions to those inefficiencies.
    • Final outcome: the city executed these proposals that ended up saving the city money and reduce energy. The city officials are interested to work with these proposals for other schools.
  • Loon Pond: Can I Swim here? (final report detail) Springfield, MA Contaminated swimming water
    • 9th grade students first: analyzed the requirements of swimmable water, tested the water that has been used for illegal trash and dumping.
    • Students then: created an official report for the city of Springfield.
    • Final outcome: they determined to city officials that the water is healthy to swim and use for recreational.
  • Cleaning the Watershed Creek Escondido, CA Human impact on watershed and decline of trout
    • 4th grade students first: studied the decline of trout in Escondido Creek Watershed through fieldwork and experts.
    • Students then: wrote up their research findings and presented them to the city officials, the community and news reporters.
    • Final outcome: students cleaned up the watershed and spread news about the watershed ecosystem.
  • Overuse Waste Bend, OR Food Waste
    • 6th grade students first: (and the school) was inspired by Anthony Bourdain's documentary, "Wasted" and shared the front page with him in 2018.
    • The students researched wasting less food while improving nutrition through the school and time in Portland's own waste stream.
    • Students then: presented their findings to the community.
    • Final outcome: Students created their own school garden and send it to areas that are food insecure.
  • Restore Coral Reefs Fort Collins, Colorado to Florida Restore coral reefs
    • 7th - 10th grade students first: studied the decline of the staghorn coral, became certified scuba divers.
    • Students then: Flew to Florida to clean the coral underwater garden.
    • Final outcome: Students helped plant 100 new coral reef plants and presented their work to many community events.
  • Student-created published Book on San Diego Bay San Diego, CA Ecological health of the Bay
    • 9-12th grade students first: worked with a variety of experts, did field work on all aspects of the bay.
    • Students then: collected their work in a published book.
    • Final outcome: they are continually updating the book with new editions
  • Creating Maps to display history and today (detail) San Diego, CA Historic map display
    A final product idea if using any map work.

Short-Term Projects Ready to Go

  • There's WHAT in My Water?!, Harmful drinking water
    • Students will: discover toxic or harmful toxins in local water.
    • Final Product: students create a report to share with the community in a form you prefer
    • Students will: research communicable diseases and interview experts.
    • Final Product: students create a recommendation on ways to mitigate these diseases to local health officials and community.
  • Pandemic!, Communicable diseases
    • Students will: research communicable diseases and interview experts.
    • Final Product: students create a recommendation on ways to mitigate these diseases to local health officials and community.
  • Massachusetts "Green Team" projects (beyond Massachusetts projects) Environmental
    • The Green Team advocates for a healthier environment and offers standards-aligned projects
  • Making Space for Challenge, Noise Pollution
    • Noise Pollution Project and Anti-Noise Organizations NYC, Organization working to reduce noise pollution
    • Students will: research environmental issues of today's parks. This provides specific templates for you to add your own local spin.
    • Final product: a final redesign of local public park presented to group
  • The People's Park, Overrun Park Space
    • Students will: research ruined or overused parks
    • Final Product: students design a renovated park and present in a mock setting.
    • Students will: research airlines trying to grow sustainably
    • Final Product: design and present ways to reduce noise and air pollution that positively impact nearby communities
  • What Goes Up: Must Get Green, Noise and Air Pollution
    • Students will: research airlines trying to grow sustainably
    • Final Product: design and present ways to reduce noise and air pollution that positively impact nearby communities
  • Design, Build and Test your own Water Filters Polluted Drinking Water
    • Students will: thorough process for designing and build a water filtration system
    • Final product: a final filter system
  • Oil Spills Polluted Ground and Water
    • Students will: research the ways oil is used and its impact on spills
    • Final product: create a prototype on improving small and large scale oil spills

Local Issue Topics

  • Overused parks: dogs and people, benches with graffiti or outdated/unusable
  • Food Waste in Cafeteria
  • Unfit sidewalks
  • Recess grounds
  • Recycling/garbage areas
  • Bathrooms in schools (vandalism)
  • Wifi: students misusing
  • Littering
  • Local Recreational centers in town
  • Playground areas
  • Environmental contamination
  • Contaminated drinking water (7th grader tests and finds lead in school water, school immediately shuts off water access)
  • Roads (causing potholes)
  • Noise pollution and studies on its impact outside noise and music (headphones) and causing hyperacusis
  • Visual pollution (graffiti) such as underpasses and stone walls in trails
  • Walking trail
  • Food being wasted from expired/outdated
  • Humans sitting too long--overused postures

Case studies and Local Topics

  • Local Issue Topics:
  • Air space: drone usage
  • Air pollution (2019 study)
  • Time and air: Improper use of car traffic flow for schools: arrival and departures
  • Gridlock
  • Overuse of printing paper--report cards, schedules