Surface vs. Sky: The Urban Heat Divide

At South and Career and Technical Academy, ninth-grade students in teacher Calais Navossier’s biology class are bringing science concepts to life through hands-on design. One of those students, Azalea Benjamin, recently completed a 3D model comparing urban and rural environments to demonstrate how urban heat islands affect those environments. 

For her project, Benjamin and her group designed two mini cities side by side. The city on the left represented a typical urban area, built with materials to illustrate dark pavement, tall buildings, and zero green spaces. In contrast, the city on the right depicted a more rural environment, with lots of grass, open land and natural surfaces that absorb less heat. Benjamin shared, “I didn't realize how much hotter cities can get just because of the materials we use and the buildings we create. Building the model helped me actually see a difference.” 

Her model effectively demonstrated how each type of landscape traps or releases heat. Benjamin expressed that one of her favorite aspects was designing a greener environment. “It was cool to show how plants and open space can keep temperatures lower. I also had fun helping create my group's mini barn,” she commented. 

Navossier’s assignment encourages students to explore how human decisions, such as building materials, land use and city planning, impact temperatures and local environments. Benjamin's project stood out for its clear contrast between the two cities and her attention to detail. “I wanted my project to make people think about how small changes, like adding more trees, can help urban heat islands,” she added. 

Through projects like these, students at South Career and Technical Academy are discovering how science connects to real-world issues, especially in rapidly growing cities.