Lesson 2: Air Pollution Components
Figure F.9 - Smog components
- Hook: Pre-made questions will be on 5 different chart papers – “What is air pollution?”, “Where does it come from?”, “How do we know it exists?”, “Where do you see it the most?”, “What effects does it have on the environment, our health?” Students will walk around answering the questions and the class will have a gallery walk afterwards. This gives students a chance to voice their opinions and thoughts on air pollution before teaching them the details. Also, it gives a chance for them to see their classmates' thoughts. The teacher also gains insight into the students' prior knowledge.
- Action: This part of the lesson includes teaching the students the content of the lesson. Students will be introduced to the gases and other matter that contribute to air pollution with a video. Students will learn the origin, properties, and some of the effects of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxides, and ozone.
- Debrief: Last chart paper will be put up and will have the question “How can we reduce air pollution?”, students will answer this and the class will discuss it briefly. Now that the students have learned the sources of these matter and gases that contribute to air pollution, they can discuss as a class how the world can reduce air pollution. This will lead into the next lesson on Air Pollution Effects and Measuring Air Quality.
- Other Teaching Ideas:
- Build an indoor air filter activity 1
- Build an indoor air filter activity 2
- Fight for Clean Air Video