Air pollution #1 – What is Air Pollution? (upper primary students)

The aim of this activity is to present air pollution as an important socio scientific issue (SSI) both relevant in their everyday life but also, for science. This activity is facilitated by providing students with different tools including authentic news from local newspapers, and in-person or video presentations of different stakeholders such as researchers on air pollution or local policymakers.

Air pollution #3 – Building the idea of pollution caused by PM (secondary students)

The aim of this activity is to help students gain an understanding of air pollution that is compatible with its scientific definitions. Specifically, it focuses on the understanding of air pollution as the presence of suspended particulate matter (PM) in the air. Students first analyse which pollutant is usually referred to by the media when describing urban air quality. Then, they carry out a learning lab activity exploring an analogy – they compare the pollution generated by an engine to what happens when a peanut is burned instead.

Air pollution #4 -How is scientific research carried out? (secondary students)

The aim of this activity is to develop students’ critical thinking about what we understand by high-quality research in science. This activity is conducted in two steps: (1) reflecting about different ways of answering a scientific question; and (2) analysing the processes of carrying out research using quality criteria such as: validity, reliability, and usefulness.

Air pollution #6 – Forecasting air pollution in cities (secondary students)

The aim of this activity is for students to learn what the air pollution data collected around their school is useful for. A professional scientist from the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC) explains in a video how real data are collected both in national stations and by citizens. He also discusses how this data is used to make forecasts about air quality in our cities.

Air pollution #7 – Effects of pollution on human health (secondary students)

The aim of this activity is to make students aware of the consequences of air pollution exposure to human health. They also learn about some of the human body’s passive mechanisms that protect us against pollutants suspended in the air. Students analyse how different particles present in the air (such as particulate matter in suspension, dust, CO2…) may penetrate their bodies and which passive mechanisms our bodies use to prevent intrusion.