In this module, students engage in a visual demonstration on the causes & effects of air pollutants on air quality and kinesthetic activities on particulate matter & visibility.
Context for Use
The four DISCOVER-AQ modules can be completed independently, sequentially, or extended into a larger unit of study.
Goals Header
What Students Will Do
- Describe to the main types of air pollution that affect air quality in Colorado’s Northern Front Range.
- Illustrate a closed-system visualization of air pollution sources and their collective impacts on the atmosphere.
- Recommend simple changes in personal actions to help reduce the causes and effects of air pollution.
- Evaluate air quality webcam photos and aerosols data to correlate how particulate matter (PM) pollution and environmental conditions affect visibility.
Teaching Materials
Description
The “Know Your AQ” curriculum applies the 5E Instructional Model:
- Engage (5 minutes)- Now You See It
Interest in air quality is generated and students’ current understanding of air pollution is assessed
- Explore (30 minutes) - Air Pollution 101 #1
Explore the types and sources of air pollutants that affect the air quality of Colorado’s Northern Front Range region.
- Explain (15 minutes) - Air Pollution 101 #2
Students construct their understanding of how individual contributions to air pollution affect overall air quality.
- Elaborate (35 minutes) - Visibility & AQ
Students deepen and expand their understanding of air quality by applying their understanding to how air pollutants affect visibility.
- Evaluate (15 minutes)- AQ 3-2-1 Exit Ticket
Informal assessment of students’ understanding of the main air quality issues in the Northern Front Range.
