This unit provides six lessons in which students develop a strategy for political action on a local environmental issue. The unit emphasizes the process of solving political problems within the political system and may be adapted to any geographical or social problem. The first lesson introduces a general environmental issue and requires students to make a value decision between the rights of people and nature. In lesson two, the students examine a local environmental problem in political terms through a simulation and a field trip. Lesson three is a simulation which introduces students to the concepts of conflict, conflict solution, and decision making. Lesson four is a slide discussion of the various kinds of political power. Lesson five provides readings and questions for a discussion on how organized, political-pressure groups work. Lesson six requires the students to formulate their own political strategy for a solution to the environmental issue. Except for audiovisual materials, this unit contains all the necessary student readings, teaching instructions, discussion questions, and evaluation questions for the unit. (DE)