Air Quality Monitoring
About this activity
Suitable for Key Stage 3. Supports the Geography / Science National Curriculum
Improving the quality of the air that children breathe around their school is one of the main benefits of travelling actively. Walking, scooting, cycling and parking & striding not only helps improves air quality around schools for the community, it also exposes children to less air pollution compared to being in a car.
Citizen science is a fun and interesting way of getting people involved in understanding and tackling environmental issues. By collecting scientific data we can better understand issues such as air pollution.
This Air Quality Monitoring activity is a great way to engage your Year 7 and 8 students in helping improve air quality around your school. The resources include a range of methods for students to monitor air quality and record their results, including observing soot build-up, lichen and tar-spots. This resource outlines three scientific investigations you can undertake with your students on the school grounds, and on the streets outside your school, to assess air quality and levels of pollutants.
The key objective is for students to use three different scientific investigations to make an assessment of the air quality around your school.
Students should consider:
•Different locations to investigate
•What locations are like at different times of day
•Number of pollution sources
•If vehicles spend time idling near to their chosen locations
This STARS activity could be aligned with an anti-idling campaign or with an outdoor classroom day.
Activity steps
Tags
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Curriculum
This activity counts towards:
- Curriculum
How it helps
- Supports the Geography and Science Curriculum
- Encourages health and well-being
- Encourage greater engagement in air quality