Materials List

Complete shopping lists for all curriculum activities, organized by grade band with budget-friendly alternatives.

Sensors & Monitors

These sensors enable students to collect real air quality data. One sensor per class is sufficient for most activities; 4-6 sensors allow for station rotations.

Item Purpose Price Range Recommended Budget Alternative
CO2 Monitor Measure ventilation quality $80-250 Aranet4 INKBIRD or generic NDIR sensor
PM2.5 Monitor Measure particle pollution $30-280 PurpleAir Indoor Temtop or handheld laser counter
Combination Monitor CO2 + PM2.5 + more $100-300 Temtop M2000 Single-function monitors

CR Box Build Materials

Materials for building one Corsi-Rosenthal box air purifier. Build 1-4 per class for testing and comparison.

Essential Materials

Item Quantity Est. Cost
20" Box Fan 1 $20-35
20x20x2" MERV-13 Filters 4 $40-60
Cardboard (for shroud) 1 piece Free
Duct Tape 1 roll $5-8

Total: $65-103 per unit

Optional Upgrades

Item Purpose Est. Cost
MERV-14 Filters Higher efficiency +$20
Bungee Cords Easier assembly $5
Foam Weatherstrip Better seal $5
Speed Controller Adjustable speed/noise $15-25

Grade K-2 Materials

Activity Materials Est. Cost
Is Air Real? Plastic bags, balloons, straws, water tub $10
Catching Particles Petroleum jelly, index cards, magnifying glasses $15
Glitter Germs Fine glitter, hand soap, paper towels $10
Coffee Filter Demo Coffee filters, water, food coloring, dirt $8

Grade 3-5 Materials

Activity Materials Est. Cost
Lung Model Plastic bottles, balloons, straws, rubber bands $15
Particle Collectors Microscope slides, petroleum jelly, hand lens $20
Outbreak Game Dice, colored chips/tokens, game boards (printable) $10
Mini Box Filter Small fan, furnace filter sample, cardboard $15

Grade 6-8 Materials

Activity Materials Est. Cost
Particle Settling Clear containers, timers, particle samples (flour, pepper) $15
CO2 Monitoring CO2 monitor (shared), data logging sheets $150 (reusable)
PM2.5 Testing PM2.5 monitor, incense/candle (pollution source) $200 (reusable)
CR Box Build See CR Box materials above $65-100
CADR Testing PM monitor, tape measure, timer, calculator Included above

Grade 9-12 Materials

Activity Materials Est. Cost
Air Chemistry Lab pH strips, beakers, vinegar, baking soda, indicators $30
Particle Physics Laser pointer, smoke/fog source, clear chamber $25
Epidemiology Simulation Computers with spreadsheet software, or printed simulation materials $0-20
Sensor Calibration Multiple sensors of same type, reference data Varies
Engineering Challenge Various materials for prototyping (cardboard, tape, fans, filters) $50-150