Hands-on Activity Air Quality and Weather Connections

Learning Objectives

After this activity, students should be able to:

• Recall that particulate matter (PM) and ground-level ozone (O3) affect air quality.
• Interpret the Air Quality Index (AQI) levels for healthy and unhealthy air.
• Design-build-test a wind streamer prototype to observe wind conditions.
• Classify place-based AQI levels for particulate matter and ozone air pollution using real-time, place-based air quality data from the AirNow.gov website or app.
• Record concurrent place-based wind speed, wind direction, and air temperature from the National Weather Service Weather.gov website or app.
• Compare and contrast place-based, concurrent particulate matter and ozone AQI data with recorded weather data.

Educational Standards

Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards.

All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN), a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org).

In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g., by state; within source by type; e.g., science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc.

NGSS: Next Generation Science Standards - Science

International Technology and Engineering Educators Association - Technology

Materials List

Per student:

• Air Quality and Weather Connections Datasheet
• Pencil

Per group:

Part 1 Make Wind Streamer (per group):

• Light-weight streamer material (e.g., crepe paper, ribbons, paper strips, etc.) cut into 3’ strips
• Paper plate
• Ruler
• Hole punch (or scissors used by teacher)
• Markers or crayons
• Compass to determine north

Part 2 Make PM Catcher (per group):

• 12”x12” cardboard, heavy cardstock, or plastic folder
• 8”x8” contact paper with the protective backing on
• Hole punch (or scissors used by teacher)
• 12” pieces of string or yarn
• Permanent marker
• Hand lens or magnifying glass

Part 3: Weather and Air Quality Data Collection:

• Pencil
• Datasheet
• Wind Streamer (per team)
• AirNow.gov PM 2.5 daily reading for school location (or nearest area)

Part 4: Analyze PM Data Table & PM Catcher, and Class Reflection

• Weather and Air Quality (datasheet section 2)
• PM Collector Grid Paper (datasheet section 3)
• PM Collector
• Hand lens

Worksheets and Attachments

Pre-Req Knowledge

A basic understanding of interpreting simple graphs with keys and numeracy (ones, tens, hundreds, and greater than/less than between values)

Basic knowledge of particulate matter and ozone sources and their effects on health.

Introduction/Motivation

Create a particulate matter collector out of common materials and use it to determine the wind’s direction, in this 15-minute activity.

What's the Point?

• Weather on Earth is always changing, but scientists — and children — can watch and use tools to note the different types of weather.
• Scientists use tools to measure wind direction (in addition to wind speed, temperature, and precipitation).

Procedure

Background

Air Quality is monitored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and communicated through the EPA AirNow.gov website and app, as well as the National Weather Service forecasts.

The two main air pollutants, which come from fossil fuel-burning transportation sources that pose significant human health risks, are ground-level ozone and particulate matter (PM). Ozone is “good up high, bad nearby”. This means the ozone layer, which is high in the atmosphere’s stratosphere, protects us from harmful UV rays from the sun. But, ozone in the lowest troposphere level of the atmosphere where we and other living things live, can cause health and environmental problems.

Ground-level ozone, or O₃, is formed when fossil fuels are burned, for example by vehicles and industries, and the emissions that are released into the air combine together in the presence of sunlight and warm temperatures to make ozone. Since sunlight is a key factor, ozone can be a particular problem during the summer months, and during daylight hours. However, ozone pollution can occur any time of the year if the conditions are right.

Breathing ozone causes irritation and damage to the respiratory system. Sensitive groups, which include the young, elderly, active people, and those with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, are even more sensitive to breathing ozone.

PM is formed from natural sources, such as wildfire and volcanic eruptions, and human-made sources when fossil fuels are burned, for example by vehicles and industries, and the emissions that are released into the air.

Breathing PM irritation and damage to the respiratory system. Sensitive groups, which include the young, elderly, active people, and those with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, are even more sensitive to breathing PM. When inhaled PM 2.5, which is 30x smaller than a human hair and not visible to the naked eye, is particularly dangerous since it is small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream and can affect organs including the heart and lungs. PM 10 are larger particles that can be seen, such as dust, pollen, and ash, that are not healthy to breathe in but are less dangerous than PM 2.5.

The US EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) is a six-stage chart that communicates the level of ozone and PM in the air so people can take appropriate action to stay safe and healthy. When the AQ is below 100 the AQI is green or yellow, which means the air is healthy to breathe. When the AQ is 100 or higher, the AQI is orange, red, purple, or brown, which means the air is increasingly unhealthy to breathe.

When the AQ rating is 100 or higher, it is advised to take the recommended precautions at the relevant level to protect one’s health, such as limiting time outdoors and refraining from strenuous activity.

To prevent ground-level ozone formation, it is advised that people limit the use of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles, such as passenger vehicles, and carpool, take public transportation, bike or walk, especially during daylight hours.

Before the Activity

• Locate the specific location(s) for safely recording wind direction and placing out PM Collectors, preferably, a flat, accessible, open area.
• Collect materials for each group
• Prepare Air Quality and Weather Connections Datasheets for each student

With the Students

Part 1: What is Air Quality (AQ) and the Air Quality Index (AQI)?

1. As a warm-up and to review what students learned about particulate matter (PM) in the previous lesson, show students the Wildfires in the West Cause Air Pollution video (show to 1:33). Have a think-pair-share on the discussion questions listed in the first section of the datasheet for this portion.
2. Next, introduce students to the concept of air quality (AQ) and the Air Quality Index (AQI) by showing the AirNow Be Smoke Ready: Know the Colors of the Air Quality Index (AQI) video. Have a think-pair-share on the discussion questions listed in the first section of the datasheet for this portion. 

3. Tie in concepts from the AirNow video to the AQI chart, review the columns together as a class.  In partners, have students complete the grade-level AirNow AQ flag activity sheet referring to the AQI chart on the datasheet. Ask students to volunteer to share their answers to reinforce the connection between AQ colors and the different levels of air health. 

   

4. Explain to the class that they will work together as teams of Environmental Engineers to design objects to collect data on wind and air quality around their school. Show examples of the Wind Streamer and PM Collector. Assign students into teams of 2-4 to undertake the challenge.

Part 2: Make a Wind Streamer to determine the wind direction.

1. Show students the Wind Streamer video.
2. Show the students the materials they will need to build their own Wind Streamer. Hand out all materials except the streamer materials to each group. Guide teams step-by-step as they design and build their Wind Streamer:

1. Have students draw a large “+” sign in the middle of the paper plate.
2. Next, draw the cardinal compass directions on the board. On their plates, have teams label the top line “N” for north, the right-side line “E” for east, the bottom line “S” for south, and the left-side line “W” for west.
3. Students hole punching the edge of the plate at the N, E, S, W labels.
4. Show the streamer materials. Tell teams to discuss together and then choose the material they think will work best for blowing the wind but will also be durable to withstand strong winds from the streamer choices. Teams then thread and knot the streamer material through the punched holes on the plate.
5. When using the Wind Streamer outdoors, demonstrate to students to face north (teacher or a student volunteer uses a compass to determine direction) and hold their Wind Streamer by the south location and keep it level.

   

6. The direction that the streamers are flowing from (not towards) is the wind direction that they will record on their datasheet when collecting data.

Part 3: Make a PM Collector to trap wind-blown particulate matter.

1. Ask students what they recall about particulate matter (PM) from the previous lesson. Explain that some particles are too small for our eyes to see (PM 2.5), but other particles are larger (PM 10), which we can see such as dust, pollen, or ash. PM comes from natural and human-made sources. PM can cause health issues if breathed in, especially PM 2.5 since it is so small and can go deep into our lungs. Explain to students that they are going to collect data on the amount of PM 10 in the air around their school.
2. Show students a finished PM Collector and explain what the different parts are and how it works to trap PM that is carried through the air by wind.
3. Show students the materials that they will need to build their PM Collector.

1. Pass out the cardboard or cardstock pieces and contact paper with the protective backing on.

   

2. Keeping the protective backing on the contact paper, have each team securely tape the piece of contact paper in the center of the cardboard with the sticky side facing up (backing on).

4. Go outside on the school grounds and design a process to determine the best outdoor locations to put the PM Collectors so they are likely to collect a lot of particulate matter. Suggestions:

• Single location with multiple PM Collectors at each cardinal direction
• Several locations have a few PM Collectors at each cardinal location.
• Flat surface vs sloped surfaces, proximity to buildings and objects, on the ground vs above the ground (e.g., taped on a wall, hanging from a tree, etc.)
1. You may have to anchor the PM Collector if it’s windy and double-check that the contact paper is firmly taped to the cardboard.
2. Once the PM Collector locations are decided by student teams, remove the protective backing from the contact paper to start collecting PM.

5. Leave the PM Collectors outside for 5 days.

Part 4: Record Weather and Air Quality Data

1. While the PM Collectors are collecting particulate matter from the air, collect weather and AQ data, as listed on AQ Data Table in the second section of the datasheet, for five days. Model an example first then guide students through the daily data collection process for five days:

1. Record the date and head outdoors.
2. Use the Wind Streamers to determine the wind direction.
3. Ask students to estimate how hazy the sky is and check the corresponding box. Compare how clear objects nearby and faraway compare. There is more haze if objects farther away are obscured.
4. Use the Weather.gov website (in class) or smartphone app (outdoors) to look up your location or zip code. Record the day’s wind speed, temperature (you can also compare the wind direction with what students observed with their Wind Streamers). 

   

5. Use the AirNow.gov website (in class) or smartphone app (outdoors) to look up and record the day’s record the PM 2.5 level and the corresponding PM 2.5 air quality color on the datasheet. Repeat this for the ozone level and color. This information is located below the AirNow.gov AQ dial image in the “Current Air Quality” section. 

   

6. Circle whether there is an Air Quality Action Day (AirNow.gov AQ dial is orange, red, purple, or maroon). This represents combined PM and Ozone air quality ratings.

2. After 5 days, go back outside and pick up the PM Collectors.

Part 5: Analyze Weather & AQ Data Table, PM Collection, and Class Reflection

1. As a class, complete section 4 of the datasheet. Review the Air Quality Index (AQI).
2. Guide the class as teams work together on the section questions. Ask teams to share their responses in a class discussion. Lead the class as teams work together on the section questions. Ask teams to share their responses to each question in a class discussion.
3. Have teams review their Air Quality data table where they recorded weather conditions, and PM 2.5 and ozone data.
4. Ask students if they see any patterns in their data (e.g., high PM and very hazy sky or high temperatures and high ozone or high winds and low PM and ozone, etc.). Look for any patterns that you see between the AQI and PM 2.5 and ozone levels.
5. Have students share the results of their PM Collectors.
6. Wrap-up the activity with a class reflection by having students share their thoughts on the following discussion questions:

• What is one thing you enjoyed in learning about Air Quality?
• In your words, explain the connection between haze and PM? Do you think the wind affects the amount of PM in the air?
• We collected data for a short time. Do you think air quality changes over a longer time?

Vocabulary/Definitions

air pollution: A mixture of solid particles and gases in the air from human-made sources such as car exhaust (emissions), chemicals from factories, and natural sources such as dust, pollen, and mold.

air quality: A measure of how clean or dirty the air is.

Air Quality Index (AQI) chart: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) index for reporting air quality.

ground-level ozone (O3): Air pollution formed in the air from vehicle and industry exhaust (emissions) in the presence of sunlight and heat.

haze: Fine dust, smoke, or mist causing a lack of transparency of the air.

particles (aerosols): Very small solid or liquid droplets, which can be found floating in the air.

Particulate matter (PM): Air pollution made of very small particles in the air that come from natural sources (e.g., wildfire smoke, dust) and human-made sources (e.g., vehicle and factory exhaust).

pollutant: A chemical or biological substance that harms water, air, or land quality.

Assessment

Pre-Activity Assessment

Interpreting Data and Numerical Data: Show a sample data table and ask students to explain what information it shows.

Activity Embedded (Formative) Assessment

Worksheet Think-Pair-Share: Scaffold students’ learning by having them work in pairs as they complete the Air Quality and Weather Connections Datasheet, as directed in the Procedure section.

Post-Activity (Summative) Assessment

Problem Solving: In a whole-class discussion, review the datasheet with students to see if any pattern exists between PM and ozone levels, weather conditions, and how clean (healthy) or dirty (unhealthy) the air is.

Making Sense: Have students reflect on the science concepts they explored and/or the science and engineering skills they used, plus questions or ideas they have by completing the Making Sense Assessment.

Investigating Questions

Essential Question:

• How can we measure how clean (healthy) the air is that we breathe?
• Do weather conditions affect air quality?
• What should we do when the air is dirty?

Answer:

Ozone and particulate matter are two main air pollutants, which come from transportation sources and affect people’s health.

National Weather Service provides model forecast guidance for particulate matter and ozone twice daily and smoke predictions once daily for the next 48 hours. State and local agencies use NWS model guidance to issue air quality forecasts that weather forecast offices (WFOs) help disseminate. Air quality forecasts of unhealthy (code orange) or worse air quality that are shared with WFOs get displayed on NWS warning maps as air quality alerts. 

The weather can significantly impact air quality since different aspects of the weather affect the amounts of ozone and particulates that are present in a specific area. Sunshine, rain, higher temperatures, wind speed, air turbulence, and mixing depths all affect pollutant concentrations.

• Wind speed, air turbulence, and mixing depth all affect how pollutants disperse or spread out from an area
• Sunshine can cause some pollutants to undergo chemical reactions, resulting in the development of smog or ozone
• Higher air temperatures can speed up chemical reactions in the air
• Rain typically results in less pollution since it washes away the particulate matter and can also wash out pollutants that are dissolvable

When Air Quality Alerts are in effect, there are actions people can take to stay safe and protect their health:

• Stay informed about air quality conditions in your area. Information is provided by EPA, NWS, and the media
• Choose a less-strenuous activity
• Shorten and take more breaks during outdoor activity
• Reschedule activities to the morning or to another day
• Move your activity inside where ozone levels are usually lower
• Spend less time near busy roads
• If possible, avoid driving gas-powered vehicles during times of poor air quality

Safety Issues

When outdoors, be aware of traffic safety concerns, especially if placing PM Collectors near PM pollution sources (e.g., parking lots, bus lanes, etc.)

Troubleshooting Tips

Check that students observe their Wind Streamers away from structures and trees so that the prevailing wind direction can be observed.

Activity Extensions

AirNow.gov Air Quality Curriculum and Resources: https://www.airnow.gov/air-quality-flag-program/schools/

AirNow.gov Air Quality Flag Program: https://www.airnow.gov/air-quality-flag-program/

AirNow.gov “For Students” section ages 7-10: https://www.airnow.gov/education/students/

AirNow.gov “For Teachers” section: https://www.airnow.gov/education/teachers/

What’s Up there Besides Air?: https://www.airnow.gov/publications/air-quality-flag-program-classroom-curriculum/whats-up-there-besides-air/

Air Quality Awareness Week resources: https://www.airnow.gov/all-publications/

Activity Scaling

For grades K-2, see the Air Quality and Particulate Matter activity.

Additional Multimedia Support

In class bookmark AirNow.gov and Weather.gov to access air quality and weather data for the section 2 data table.

Download AirNow.gov and Weather.gov apps for use outdoors.

References

Other Related Information

This activity requires the following resources:

• Warm-Up video: Wildfires in the West Cause Air Pollution
• US EPA Be Smoke Ready: Know the Colors of the Air Quality Index (AQI) also in Spanish.
• AirNow.gov (type in zip code to find school location or nearest area for PM 2.5 air quality data)
• Weather.gov (type in zip code to find school location or nearest area for air temperature, wind direction, and wind speed data)

Copyright

Contributors

Supporting Program

Acknowledgements

This curriculum was developed under National Science Foundation grant number 1941524. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

This curriculum was developed with support from the AEROKATS and ROVER Education Network (AREN) (Henry/NNX16AB95A). AREN is a NASA Science Mission Directorate Science Activation (SciAct) Program.