What's Up There Besides Air?

In this lesson, students will define particulate matter, collect it from the air in test areas around the school and analyze the particles collected to draw conclusions about the airborne particulate pollutants.

In this lesson, students will define particle pollution, discuss its potential sources and identify health problems associated with it and how our bodies work to protect us. They will do so by pretending to be cilia, tiny hairs that protect and filter out particles in the lungs.

Vegetative barriers, which include trees and bushes, can help reduce pollution near busy highways and roads. As part of EPA's research on this topic, K-5 lesson plans and activities have been developed that focus on air quality, air sensors, air pollution, and the impact of air pollution on human health. Each lesson contains an in-class activity as well as a field experience activity which requires the use of stationary and/or mobile sensors.