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Introduction to Air Quality

Lesson 1

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Learning Objectives

Define the criteria and constraints of a design that is structured to reduce the particulate matter in classroom air, a mixture of tiny solids, liquid droplets, and gases.  

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Think-Pair-Share

Do you think about the air you breathe?

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Photo by Andy Bao (Associated Press)

Source: WFSB

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Discuss: what surprises you?

Source: EPA

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How can air affect us?

There is tiny stuff in our air! This graph shows the effect of particulate matter (PM2.5) on change in students’ math test scores.

What do you notice? What do you wonder?

Source:

Lam, P. H., Zang, E., Chen, D., Liu, R., & Chen, K. (2023). Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter and academic performance among children in North Carolina. JAMA Network Open, 6(10), e2340928.

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Air Quality

Write your observations and questions in the chart on your worksheet.

  1. Read the EPA infographic about school indoor air quality.
  2. Watch the video from the American Lung Association. 
  3. Chart adapted from EPA →

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AQI

PM2.5

Hazardous

300+

225.5+

Very unhealthy

201-300

125.5-225.4

Unhealthy

151-200

55.5-125.4

Unhealthy for sensitive groups

101-150

35.5-55.4

Moderate

51-100

9.1-35.4

Good

0-50

0-9

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Causal or Correlational

Do we know that the particulate matter exposure is causing change in math test scores?

What information do we need?

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Engineering Design

What is the problem we want to solve?

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Use evidence from the video to explain why we want to solve the problem.

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If we are going to solve the problem, we need to know the criteria.

Criteria are the things required for success.

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What does the solution need to do?

Source: Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation

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We need to think creatively, but there are some constraints.

Constraints are the limitations.

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What are some limits to our solution?

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Exit Ticket

Brainstorm on paper:

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What might a solution look like?

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Sketch and label your ideas!

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Building an Air Purifier

Lesson 2

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Learning Objective

Build, test, and optimize a device that can reduce particulate matter.

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Think-Pair-Share

Questions:

  • How might this device work?

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  • What specific structures enable it to clean the air?

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Source: UConn

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Building Activity

Adhesive Engineer

Cut strips of tape, help tape edges, and clean scissors after 

Cut cardboard square, ensure waste is disposed of correctly 

Check filter direction, look for gaps in tape

Keep track of time and materials, also help assemble

Quality Control Engineer

Sustainability Coordinator

Project Manager

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Building Activity

Photojournalist

Take photos and write captions

Gathers materials for and plans decoration

Art Director

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How to Build an Air Purifier Video

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Directions

  • Gather materials. Take fan out of the box and make sure it works. 
  • Cut a 50.8 cm x 50.8 cm square from the cardboard box (approximately the large side of the box).  
  • Assemble the air filters (arrows face in, must be square). Tape edges. 
  • Tape cardboard square to top of filters. Flip it over (the cardboard is the bottom of the box) 
  • Tape fan to the filters. Be sure the fan will blow air up! 

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Does the air purifier meet our criteria?

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What do we need to do to determine whether it meets the criteria?

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What is this device?�What does it tell us?

Source: IQAir

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Tissue Test

Think about it:

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  • Where is the clean air leaving the fan?  
  • Where do we want the dirty air entering the fan? 
  • Can air sneak in without going through a filter? 

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Investigation

  1. Choose variables
  2. Write a testable question
  3. Write a hypothesis
  4. Create a data table to keep your data organized and easy to analyze

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Exit Ticket

  • What is the purpose of the DIY air purifier?

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  • What is the purpose of the shroud?

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Analyzing Data

Lesson 3

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Learning Objectives

  • Analyze data to determine relationships between behavioral and environmental variables and indoor air quality.

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  • Communicate technical information about the scale and proportion of indoor air pollutants in classrooms.

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Collect Data

  1. Collect data from air monitors
  2. Graph!

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Claim, Evidence, Reasoning Worksheet

  1. What does the data tell us? Write a claim. 
  2. What evidence do we have to support the claim? 
  3. What is the reason behind the claim? Why are the data like this? 

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Science Communication

  1. What is science communication?
  2. Why does it matter?

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RAFT Activity and Worksheet

  1. Role
  2. Audience
  3. Format
  4. Topic

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Exit Ticket

How has your thinking about air quality changed? 

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I used to think ____. Now I think ____. 

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