My NASA Data

Chemical products like household cleaners, pesticides, paints and perfumes that contain compounds refined from petroleum now rival motor vehicle emissions as the top source of urban air pollution, according to a surprising NOAA-led study. Credit: NOAA Research News Thursday, February 15, 2018

Human Health & Air Quality

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

In this 5Es lesson, students will uncover how changes in global air quality have impacted human health in cities between 2000 and 2019.

Fires and smoke in Botswana, South Africa . Source: NASA Earth Observatory

What is Particulate Matter?

Grade Level: 6-8

Students watch videos and/or review articles related to particulate matter and how this pollutant is monitored and measured, then provide their understanding individually or in groups.

The image shows the world map with different shades of blue, and shows where levels of ozone are distributed at the surface level. Source: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio

What is Ozone?

Grade Level: 6-8

Students watch videos and review articles related to ozone as a pollutant at ground level, and how ozone impacts environment, then provide their understanding in groups.

The image shows smoke coming out of smoke stacks from a factory. NASA scientists tracked air pollution trends over the last decade in various regions and 195 cities around the globe. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Changes in Criteria Pollutant Levels in the U.S.

Grade Level: 9-12

Students synthesize information from My NASA Data maps and texts from the EPA website to determine how levels of criteria pollutants have changed from 2005 to 2021. This research will prepare them to respond to the lesson’s essential questions during a Socratic seminar.

Map of counties designated as “nonattainment” or “maintenance” areas by the Clean Air Act’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

Nonattainment Areas: Zoom In Inquiry

Grade Level: 9-12

Students will engage in a “Zoom In Inquiry” learning routine to understand a world map that shows changes in PM_2.5-attributable mortality per 100,000 population (Bondie, 2013).

Nitrogen dioxide is part of the Earth system.

Nitrogen Dioxide and Precipitation

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Students will explore the relationship between Nitrogen Dioxide and Precipitation in Earth's atmosphere. They will explore the data provided, make a claim, and complete a slide guided by a rubric.

The image show wildland Fires in northern Canada. Image source: CALIPSO

Smoke Travels

Grade Level: 6-8

Students will analyze images and data from a variety of NASA sensors and satellites depicting the wildfires of northern Canada to understand the state of the atmosphere at the time. Then they will answer a series of questions.

The map above shows the absolute change in PM2.5 concentrations weighted by population around the world between 2000 and 2019 (Pratt, 2022).

Particulates & Population: Zoom In Inquiry

Grade Level: 9-12

Students will engage in a “Zoom In Inquiry” learning routine to understand the symbols on a world map that shows population-weighted concentrations of PM_2.5.They will reflect on how their perception of the image changed as they saw more of the image.

Monitoring Ozone in National Parks

Grade Level: 6-8

This lesson uses the National Park Service Story Map which displays national parks around the contiguous United States and their standard exceedance ozone concentrations from 2016-2021. Students will explore ozone levels and answer questions.

How the 2020 Creek Fire Impacted Air Quality

Grade Level: 9-12

In this 5E’s lesson, students observe maps that show smoke and AOD levels surrounding Fresno, California at the time when the 2020 Creek Fire was burning. Students construct a claim that identifies a relationship between fire-related data and air quality data.