Air Quality Mini Lessons
My NASA Data offers a collection of short, flexible air quality mini-lessons built around real data from NASA satellites, EPA’s AirData, and AirNow. Topics include exploring the Air Quality Index for local ZIP codes, analyzing multi-year PM2.5 trends, and investigating global relationships between particulate pollution and human health outcomes.
Mini-lessons are designed to be completed within a class period and can serve as bell ringers, hooks, discussion starters, or exit slips.
These mini-lessons are a gift to busy teachers—minimal prep, authentic NASA and EPA data, and a format flexible enough to drop into almost any existing lesson.
The data literacy skills students practice (reading AQI maps, interpreting time-series plots, making claims from evidence) are directly aligned with how environmental scientists actually work, which I think is really powerful.
Go to Air Quality Mini Lessons
Air quality is a good indicator of environmental health and climatic conditions. Use the resources below to engage learners in discussions about how local, regional, and global environmental concerns impact the air we breathe. From simulations to data collection using air quality sensors, these resources provide engaging approaches to teaching about air quality. View more resources in the Air Quality PRO Picks collection >