Office of Air Quality Monitoring Operations

Address/Phone/Fax monops@tnrcc.state.tx.us Help February 24, 1997

Air Quality and Transportation

Purpose:

This experiment will help us to see that using carpools and other alternative means of transportation are necessary to lessen air pollution.

Grade Level:

2nd grade

Essential Elements:

Environmental Essential Elements Across the Curriculum - 75.25 (2) Acquire data through the senses. The student shall be given opportunities to (B) observe properties and patterns of objects, organisms, and events in the environment, and (E) explore the environment.

(3) Classify, order, and sequence data. The student shall be given opportunities to (B) classify matter, forces, energy, organisms, actions, and events from the environment according to similarities and differences. (4) Communicate data and information in appropriate oral and written form. The student shall be given opportunities to (D) describe changes that occur to objects and organisms in the environment.

Objective:

To learn about air pollution and the effects it has on our Earth.

Focus:

Ask the students how they get to school and graph the types of transportation used.

Background:

Air pollution is a problem in many areas. Air pollution is air that is dirty compared to its original state. Air pollution can be harmful to people, animals, plants, and structures. Vehicles produce a large percentage of air pollution. Vehicle exhausts contains carbon monoxide and small traces of volatile organic compounds. These compounds, on hot, sunny days with light winds, can produce ground level ozone. Ozone is an air pollutant that can cause health problems after high levels of exposure. Ozone is a main component of smog. (More information and activities on ozone are available.) Another common pollutant is airborne particulate matter. Some examples are tiny particles of soil, ash, or emissions from some factories that can get into your lungs and cause health problems.

In order to control air pollution, the government has placed restrictions on how much of these contaminants can be released into the air. One thing you can do to keep the air clean is to encourage your family or friends to walk or ride a bike when possible instead of driving.(More information on ridesharing is available.)

Procedures:

1. Students will tally cars on a sheet that has been categorized as follows:

One person in car

Two persons in car

Three or more persons in car

2. Have students go to the front of the school in the morning or afternoon when there is the most traffic.
3. Have students tally the cars for five minutes.
4. Return to the classroom and have the students discuss their observations.
5. Graph the outcomes of the experiment.
6. Ask the students to discuss alternatives to driving alone.

Enrichment:

Make a list of the different alternatives to driving and discuss how they can help lessen air pollution.

Reference:

Integrated Thematic Unit Scholastic

Acknowledgment:

Teresa Ayala, University of Texas at El Paso TES Course, 1995