Georgia SS6G2.a

Social Studies6th GradeLatin America and Canada

The Standard

Explain the causes and effects of air pollution in Mexico City, Mexico.

Georgia Standards of Excellence for Social Studies · Explain the impact of environmental issues in Latin America.

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify major pollution sources, including vehicle exhaust and factory emissions. They explain how mountains, high elevation, and weather conditions trap polluted air, then connect poor air quality to health and daily life.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can separate pollution sources from geographic conditions that make pollution worse. They can trace a clear cause-and-effect chain from emissions to smog, breathing problems, and limits on outdoor activity.
Common Misconceptions: Students may say the surrounding mountains create pollution rather than trap it. They may blame factories alone, overlook vehicle exhaust, or confuse harmful ground-level ozone with the protective ozone layer.
How to Assess It: Use this exit ticket: Name two pollution sources, explain one reason polluted air becomes trapped, and describe two effects on people in Mexico City.

Lesson moves

Build a clay basin model, add labeled source cards, and use yarn arrows to show why polluted air collects over the city.
Write a claim answering: Which matters more, pollution sources or Mexico City’s geography? Support it with three facts.
Sort cards into sources, trapping conditions, and effects, then race to build accurate three-card cause-and-effect chains.
Compare Mexico City air quality readings with your local readings, then plan safe outdoor activities for each location.

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