CO2 Detectives
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Collect CO2 data at regular time intervals
- Record data in an organized table
- Observe how CO2 levels change throughout the school day
- Identify what makes CO2 go up or down
The Big Question
"How does the CO2 in our classroom change during the day?"
You are CO2 Detectives! Your mission is to track CO2 levels in our classroom throughout the day. You'll collect data, look for patterns, and figure out what makes CO2 go up and down.
When to Collect Data
Good scientists collect data at regular intervals. We'll measure CO2:
- First thing in the morning (before everyone arrives)
- After morning attendance (everyone is here)
- Before lunch
- After lunch (room was empty)
- End of day
We'll also note what's happening: Are windows open? How many people are in the room?
Data Collection Sheet
| Time | CO2 (ppm) | # of People | Windows | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning arrival | Open / Closed | |||
| After attendance | Open / Closed | |||
| Before lunch | Open / Closed | |||
| After lunch | Open / Closed | |||
| End of day | Open / Closed |
Before we collect data, let's make predictions!
Discuss with a partner:
- When do you think CO2 will be LOWEST? Why?
- When do you think CO2 will be HIGHEST? Why?
- What do you think will happen to CO2 during lunch (when the room is empty)?
- What do you think will happen if we open the windows?
Write your predictions in your science notebook!
Things That RAISE CO2
- More people in the room
- Windows and doors closed
- Longer time without fresh air
- Exercise (more breathing!)
- Heating/AC not running
Things That LOWER CO2
- Fewer people in the room
- Windows and doors open
- Good HVAC ventilation
- Taking breaks outside
- Air purifiers with fresh air intake
Does Opening Windows Really Help?
- Record: CO2 level with windows CLOSED: _____ ppm
- Open: Open the windows (if possible)
- Wait: 5 minutes
- Record: CO2 level with windows OPEN: _____ ppm
- Calculate: How much did CO2 change? _____ ppm
What Should We See?
Opening windows should bring in fresh outdoor air (~420 ppm CO2) and help lower the indoor CO2 level. The bigger the difference, the more "stale" the air was!
As you collect data, think about:
- What was our highest reading? When did it happen?
- What was our lowest reading? When did it happen?
- Did opening windows make a difference?
- Was the CO2 higher in the morning or afternoon?
- Did CO2 go down during lunch when the room was empty?
Record your findings:
- Copy your data table into your notebook
- Circle the highest CO2 reading and the lowest
- Were your predictions correct? Explain.
- What patterns did you notice?
- Based on our data, what could we do to improve classroom air quality?
Key Takeaways
- CO2 levels change throughout the day
- More people + less ventilation = higher CO2
- Opening windows and good air flow lower CO2
- Collecting data at regular intervals helps us see patterns
- Good detectives record what's happening (notes), not just numbers!
Data Collection
Gathering information through measurements and observations.
Interval
The time between measurements (like every hour).
Variable
Something that can change, like the number of people or whether windows are open.
Pattern
Something that repeats or follows a trend in the data.