What's in Our Air?
Students discover that air is real even though we cannot see it, learn about the different gases that make up air, explore tiny particles called PM, and learn to read the Air Quality Index.
4
Lessons
4
Class Periods
Low
Materials Cost
3
NGSS Standards
Essential Question
What is air made of, and how can we tell if the air around us is clean or dirty?
Lessons
Key Concepts
Air is Real
- Air takes up space
- Air has weight
- Air pushes on things (pressure)
- We live in an ocean of air
Gases in Air
- Mostly nitrogen (78%)
- Oxygen we breathe (21%)
- A little CO2 (less than 1%)
- Tiny amounts of other gases
Particles in Air
- PM = Particulate Matter (tiny bits)
- PM10: 10 micrometers (like dust)
- PM2.5: 2.5 micrometers (super tiny!)
- Smaller particles are harder to see
Air Quality Index
- Green (0-50): Good air
- Yellow (51-100): Moderate
- Orange (101-150): Some may be sensitive
- Red and above: Unhealthy
Standards Alignment
| Standard | Description |
|---|---|
| 5-PS1-1 | Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen |
| 5-ESS2-1 | Develop a model to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere interact |
| 4.MD.A.1 | Know relative sizes of measurement units and express measurements in a larger unit in terms of a smaller unit |