Assess students' ability to analyze the causes and environmental impacts of urban heat islands by identifying physical drivers (impervious surfaces, reduced vegetation, waste heat), interpreting simple temperature maps or graphs comparing urban and rural areas, explaining effects on air quality, energy use, water runoff, and human health, and proposing and evaluating practical mitigation strategies (e.g., green roofs, tree planting, reflective surfaces) with attention to trade-offs and local context.