National Library of Medicine
Your Environment, Your Health: Air Quality
Some scientists argue that air pollution now causes more deaths than smoking. The second unit in a six-part series focuses on air quality. Scholars learn what's in the air, how clean the air around their school is, and what they can do...
Concord Consortium
Intermolecular Attractions and Boiling Point
Why do different substances have different boiling points? Through an interactive lesson, learners explore how intermolecular attractions affect boiling points. They interact with molecules through an animation and make conclusions about...
National Science Teacher Association
Middle School Sampler: Science
Focus on inquiry-based learning in your science class with a series of activities designed for middle schoolers. A helpful packet samples four different texts, which include activities about predator-prey relationships, Earth's axis...
Curated OER
Particulate Matter
Seventh graders examine the different types of pollutants. In this environmental science lesson, 7th graders observe particulate matter under a microscope. They explain how these can affect once health when breathed in large quantities...
Curated OER
Particulate Matter: The Lorax
Students explore air pollution. In this ecology lesson, students participate in an experiment in which 5 numbered jar lids are placed outside. Students bring one lid a day in until all jars are inside. Dirt specks are counted, observed,...
Curated OER
Particulate Matter: The Lorax
Students investigate how dirty air is outside. They read and discuss the book, The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss. They investigate using jars and lids to compare the dirt left each day as they remove the lids. They observe the lids and discuss if...
Curated OER
What's Making It Look So Brown Outside?
Ninth graders analyze cars and particulate matter in the atmosphere. They analyze results of particulate pollutants and identify which vehicle gives off more particulates. They identify sources of particulate matter and relate to...
Curated OER
The Air We Breathe
Middle schoolers discover the cuases of pollution. They investigate different pollutants that exist. Stsudents research technologies developed by engineers to reduce the amounts of air pollution. Upon completion of assigned...
Curated OER
What Can I Do?
Students describe the things that citizens can do to reduce ground level ozone and particulate matter. They design a flyer, poster or webpage to teach others about diesel bus retrofitting projects.
Curated OER
Let's Catch Some Dirt From the Air
Students create "catchers" that collect dirt particles from the air. They observe the particulate matter that is collected from the air and discuss the effects and causes of air pollution.
Curated OER
Particulate Matter: How Dirty is the Air We Breathe?
Fourth graders create a simple testing device and collect and observe the pollution in the air we breathe.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Cleaning the Air
Engineers design methods of removing particulate matter from industrial sources to minimize negative effects of air pollution. In this activity, students will undertake a similar engineering challenge as they design and build a filter to...
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Air Quality Teaching Box
This teaching box is filled with educational resources that help students explore the science of, and solutions to, air pollution.
Other
California Air Resources Board: Air Pollution Particulate Matter Brochure
This online brochure focuses on particulate matter in the atmosphere and its health effects.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Dangerous Air
By tracing the movement of radiation released during an accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, students see how air pollution, like particulate matter, can become a global issue.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: I Breathe What??
In this activity, students will capture and examine the particles to gain an appreciation of how much dust, pollen and other particulate matter is present in the air around them. Students will place "pollution detectors" at various...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: You've Got to See It to Believe It!
Students develop an understanding of visible air pollutants with an incomplete combustion demonstration, a "smog in a jar" demonstration, building simple particulate matter collectors, and exploration of engineering roles related to air...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Air We Breathe
During this activity, students will learn what causes air pollution and how to investigate the different pollutants that exist, such as toxic gases and particulate matter. Students will investigate the technologies developed by engineers...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Got Dirty Air?
This lesson introduces students to the concepts of air pollution and technologies that have been developed by engineers to reduce air pollution. Students develop an understanding of visible air pollutants with an incomplete combustion...
Michigan Reach Out
Reach Out Michigan: Let's Catch Some Dirt From the Air
This site provides an experiment for early elementary students to discover different dirt particles in the air, and explore causes of air pollution.
Other
Just for Kids: Air
Pennsylvania's DEP presents this site on air pollution. Learn about ozone, particulate matter, and the air quality index.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Origins: Earth Is Born
Collect micrometeorites from space -- remnants of the time when the solar system formed about 4.6 billion years ago. Create a sky dust collector, sort particularate matter according to attributes and identify micrometeorites by their...
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Air Pollution: How We're Changing the Air
Learn about the six main types of human-made air pollutants and their sources.