It's Our Air - 1-4 Criteria Pollutants & A Closer Look At Ozone
A CLOSER LOOK AT OZONE ACTIVITY
In the hands-on activity, students will be introduced to the criteria pollutants and will work in groups to make cartoon booklets demonstrating the formation of ground-level ozone and the destruction of stratospheric ozone.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
What are criteria pollutants and why are they of concern?
What’s the difference between stratospheric ozone and ground-level ozone?
Why do we sometimes have too much ozone in the troposphere and not enough in the stratosphere?
How do these problems affect human health?
TIME NEEDED: Variable
Paper
Colored pencils and markers
Worksheets (included
Internet connection (optional)
Molecule-making sets (optional)
Video worksheets (included)
TOPICS: criteria pollutants, defining air pollution, ground-level ozone, stratospheric ozone.
TYPES: creative writing, art
NC ESSENTIAL STANDARDS for Earth/Environmental Science:
EEn.2.5.1. Summarize the structure and composition of our atmosphere
EEn.2.5.5 Explain how human activities affect air quality
EEn.2.7.3 Explain how human activities impact the biosphere.
DOWNLOAD VIDEO FILE
CRITERIA POLLUTANTS VIDEO
A video asks the question, “How do you define air pollution?” then gets definitions from experts; reviews the criteria pollutants (ground-level ozone, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead) showing the sources and problems caused by each of these air pollutants.
Video downloads are able to display subtitles. We recommend using VLC media player for optimal playback of subtitles.
A CLOSER LOOK AT OZONE - TEACHER TO TEACHER TIPS
The quick video below has tips for doing this activity from Mark Townley, an award-winning, North Carolina high school teacher. Mark helped develop It’s Our Air and has used each of these activities with his students.
OTHER MODULE 1 (AIR POLLUTANTS & THEIR SOURCES) ACTIVITIES AND VIDEOS
1-2 Combustion and Combustion Equations
1-4 The Criteria Pollutants and a Closer Look at Ozone (this activity)
1-5 NC & Local Sources of Air Pollution