GRADES
3-5
STUDENT ACTIVITY SHEETS
N a m e : _____________________________ G r a d e : ______ S c h o o l : __________________
Activity 1:
Causes of Air Pollution
What Is Air Pollution?
Imagine more than 7,000 big empty soda bottles lined up.
The amount of air in those bottles is about how much air
each of us breathes every day. Now imagine that the bottles
contain not just air but also unhealthy gases and dirt particles.
Unfortunately, that is the air that we breathe on many days—
polluted air.
Air is polluted when it contains enough gases and particles
to harm living things—people, plants, animals. This pollution
comes from many familiar sources:
• cars and trucks and other vehicles
• gas-powered equipment, such as lawn mowers and
leaf blowers
• power plants and factories that burn fossil fuels
• fires, such as in wood stoves, fireplaces, campfires,
and barbeques
• dust and dirt from construction sites, roads, and fields
• household products, such as lighter fluid, paint,
cleaners, and bug sprays
In the San Joaquin Valley, the largest source of air pollution is
the exhaust from cars and other vehicles.
San
Joaquin
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution
Control District
Northern Region
In the San Joaquin Valley, we have a serious air pollution
problem. The San Joaquin Valley Air District covers eight
counties, which are divided into three regions:
Northern Region: San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced counties
Central Region: Madera, Fresno, Kings counties
Southern Region: Tulare and some of Kern counties
Stanislaus
Merced
Madera
The entire area is 270 miles from north to south. In terms of the
area it covers, the Valley Air District is the largest air pollution
control district in the nation, nearly 25,000 square miles.
Fresno
Central
Region
Tulare
• Geography. The Valley is shaped like a big pot or bathtub
with mountains forming the sides. The air pollution settles
on the Valley floor and gets trapped.
Kings
Kern
Southern Region
The Valley has high levels of air pollution for three reasons:
• Climate. In the summer, hot temperatures cause pollutants
to combine to form smog. In the winter, very little wind
keeps particulate matter in the air.
• Growing Population. More people in the Valley means
more cars on the road and more equipment, products,
and activities that cause air pollution.
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Activity 2:
Air Pollution Log
In your community, what SIGNS of air pollution do you see and smell?
What SOURCES of that air pollution can you find?
What are some EFFECTS of air pollution that you notice?
SIGNS of Air Pollution
Example: Smoke in the air
SOURCES of Air Pollution
Example: Exhaust from car’s tailpipe
EFFECTS of Air Pollution
Example: People’s eyes watering
3
Major Pollutants
Activity 3:
In the San Joaquin Valley, our air quality does
not meet standards set by both the federal or
state governments for two pollutants:
• particulate matter (PM2.5)
• ozone (O3)
Particulate Matter
Many small particles of solid or liquid matter
are carried in our air. Some we can see; others
are so tiny that we can’t see them. Some occur
naturally; others are created by people.
Particulate matter comes from:
• soot and smoke from chimneys and
smokestacks
• ash and gases from burning wood
• exhaust from vehicles, especially diesel
engines
• dust from construction and mining
• dust from roads and fields
• rubber from tires
• emissions from factories and power plants
Particulate matter is more of a problem during the winter months when people like to use their fireplaces and
wood stoves. And when there is fog, the unhealthy particles can stay in the air at ground level long after the
fires go out.
Ozone
Ozone is an odorless, colorless gas. It doesn’t come directly out of a smokestack or tailpipe, but ozone is created
by the pollutants that do come out of tailpipes and smokestacks, as well as other sources.
Here’s how it works. In the air, combine...
Hot Sunshine
+
Nitrogen Oxides
(NOx)
(emitted from vehicles, equipment,
and buildings that burn fossil fuels)
+
Volatile Organic Compounds =
(VOCs)
(from the vapors of gasoline, lighter
fluid, paint, cleaners, and other chemicals)
When the sun is bright and hot, the pollutants combine to form ozone, which is the main ingredient in smog.
Ozone can become dangerous during the summer.
4
Activity 4:
Pie in the Sky
The illustration below shows the major sources of air pollution in the San Joaquin
Valley in the summer and in the winter. Color each portion in the air pollution pies
a different color and then answer the questions below.
Summer
Winter
Problem: OZONE
Problem: PARTICULATE MATTER
(NOx + VOCs + Hot Sun)
Fireplaces
and Wood
Stoves
(20%)
Other
Sources
(40%)
Motor
Vehicles
(60%)
Other Sources
(80%)
NOx
PM
VOCs
PM
PM
VEHICLES
FACTORIES/
POWER PLANTS
B U R N I N G
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
F O S S I L
GAS-POWERED
EQUIPMENT
F U E L S
WOOD
STOVE
F
CAMP
FIRE
I
R
BARBEQUE
E
S
CONSTRUCTION
D
U
S
ROADS
T
PAINT
AEROSOLS
V
A
GASOLINE
P
O
R
CHARCOAL
LIGHTER FLUID
S
What air pollutant is the biggest problem in the summer?__________________________________
What air pollutant is the biggest problem in the winter?____________________________________
How is ozone formed?_________________________________________________________________
What are the major sources of the emissions that create ozone?_____________________________
Besides cars and trucks, what else burns gasoline?__________________________________________
Where do VOCs come from?____________________________________________________________
Why is particulate matter such a problem in the winter?____________________________________
Besides burning wood, where else does particulate matter come from?________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5
Activity 5:
It’s a bright sunny summer day,
and you’re outside playing—maybe
rollerblading, skate boarding,
riding your bike, shooting baskets,
or chasing your dog. But your eyes
are watering, and your chest feels
tight. Taking deep breaths is painful.
You might be suffering from the
effects of air pollution.
The ozone that forms in the air in
the summer isn’t just irritating. It
is actually harmful to our health.
It damages our lungs and makes
diseases such as asthma and
bronchitis worse.
Particulate matter also causes
health problems, especially
during fall and winter months.
Large particles get trapped in
the mucous membranes in our
noses or throats or bronchial
tubes. We often sneeze or
cough them out. But tiny
particles get past our bodies’
filtering system. Particles
less than 10 microns—which is
about one-seventh the width of a
strand of human hair—are called
PM10. PM10 includes a harmful
mix of soot, chemicals, dust, salts,
dirt, metals, smoke, and toxins.
These particles, as well as even
smaller particles known as PM2.5,
enter our lungs, where they can do
permanent damage.
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Effects of Air Pollution
How Air Pollution
Affects the Body
• Causes headaches and dizziness
• Makes eyes sting and water
• Causes coughing and sneezing
• Irritates and dries throat
• Can trigger heart attacks in
people with heart disease
• Causes chest tightness and
pain
• Causes shortness of breath
• Increases asthma, bronchitis,
and other respiratory
diseases
• Decreases lung function
• Causes nausea
Relative Size of Particulate Matter
PM10
Human Hair Cross Section
60 microns diameter
PM2.5
Activity 5:
A I R
Q U A L I T Y
I N D E X
( A Q I )
200
150
Effects of Air Pollution
VERY UNHEALTHY
• Sensitive persons should
remain indoors.
• Everyone should
avoid outdoor exertion.
UNHEALTHY
• Sensitive persons
should avoid outdoor
exertion.
• Everyone should limit
prolonged outdoor
exertion.
UNHEALTHY FOR
SENSITIVE GROUPS
• Sensitive persons
should limit outdoor
exertion.
Continued
Air pollution isn’t just harmful to
people. It also affects the health of our
pets and farm animals.
Air pollution creates other problems.
Too much pollution in the air reduces
visibility. And some kinds of pollution
affect non-living things by:
• fading and peeling paint
• corroding plaster
• damaging fabrics
• cracking rubber
• rusting iron or steel
The quality of our air is monitored
every day. When the amount of
pollutants in the air is forecast to reach
a certain level, which is measured on an
“Air Quality Index,” notifications are
issued. On these days, people are
advised to cut back on activities that
pollute the air and to limit outdoor
exercise.
100
MODERATE
• Unusually sensitive
persons–such as those
with respiratory diseases–
should limit outdoor
exertion.
50
GOOD
• No health cautions
are issued.
0
7
Activity 6:
Pollution Problems
Describe the pollutants below and list their causes and effects.
Ozone
What does it look like and smell like?
What causes it?
What problems does it cause?
Particulate Matter
What does it look like and smell like?
What causes it?
What problems does it cause?
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9
AIR QUALITY INDEX (AQI)
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
180
190
200
210
220
230
240
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Tracking
9
AQI
C O U N T Y _____________M O N T H ____________
Levels of Air Pollution
D AY S O F T H E M O N T H
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
the
Activity 7:
GOOD
No health
cautions are issued.
MODERATE
Unusually sensitive
persons–such as those
with respiratory
diseases–should limit
outdoor exertion.
UNHEALTHY FOR
SENSITIVE GROUPS
Sensitive persons
should limit outdoor
exertion.
UNHEALTHY
Sensitive persons
should avoid
outdoor
exertion.
Everyone
should limit
prolonged outdoor
exertion.
VERY UNHEALTHY
Sensitive persons
should remain
indoors.
Everyone
should avoid
outdoor exertion.
Activity 7:
Levels of Air Pollution
C O U N T Y _____________________M O N T H ____________
10
Date
AQI Level
Temperature
Sample
175
102
Weather Conditions
No clouds
Health Recommendations
Limit outdoor exertion
Activity 8:
Pollution Solutions
Where does air pollution come from? It comes from us! Most of the air pollution in the
San Joaquin Valley is created by the people who live here. Our health depends on clean
air, and clean air depends on the choices we make every day.
TRANSPORTATION
Cars and other vehicles in the Valley release more than 1,000 tons of pollution
every day. To help cut down on air pollution from cars, here's what we can do:
❍ Carpool or take public transportation instead of driving alone.
❍ Bicycle, skate, or walk instead of using the car.
❍ Combine errands—that is,“trip link”—so that only one trip is necessary.
❍ Shop by phone, mail, or Internet instead of driving to stores.
❍ Don’t let a car idle for more than one minute.
❍ Keep cars in good working condition.
❍ Don’t fill the gas tank to the very top when getting gasoline.
HEATING
One fireplace can emit more particulate matter in an hour than 7,000 home
furnaces. To stay warm and breathe clean air, we can:
❍ Replace older wood inserts and stoves with EPA-certified cleaner devices
that are pellet-fueled or that use natural gas or propane.
❍ Burn cleanly by using manufactured wood logs or dry, seasoned wood.
❍ Keep fireplaces, wood stoves, and chimneys clean and have them inspected
periodically.
❍ Never burn trash, newspapers, magazines, wrapping paper, plastics, or
other items not designed for burning in a fireplace. Burning trash is
illegal. It can create hazardous emissons, and as a violation of the Valley’s
Air District rules, it can result in fines.
11
Activity 8:
Pollution Solutions
Continued
YARD WORK
Even gasoline-powered yard equipment can contribute to air pollution.
We can clean up our yards and keep the air clean if we:
❍ Use push mowers or electric lawn mowers.
❍ Clean up with a broom and rake instead of a leaf blower.
❍ Avoid pesticides, especially in sprayers.
PRODUCTS
A squirt or two of charcoal lighter fluid may not seem like much. But more than three million
people live in the San Joaquin Valley, and almost all use products that contribute to air pollution. Household products—such as lighter fluid, paint, cleaners, polishes, drain openers, and
insecticides—create tons of air pollution every day in the Valley.
To help reduce that amount:
❍ Light barbeque briquettes without lighter fluid; use an electric or a chimney
briquette starter; or use a propane or natural gas barbeque instead.
❍ Paint with water-based paint, and use brushes and rollers,
not sprayers.
❍ Choose pump sprays, gels, or solids instead of aerosol sprays.
❍ Avoid products with labels that have words such as
“Hazardous,” “Toxic,” or “Danger.”
HEALTHY AIR LIVING
We should make air-friendly choices every day. But when air pollution is forecast to reach
unhealthy levels, we must be particularly careful. On those days, residents are asked to reduce
or avoid as many activities as possible that cause air pollution.
In the summer when the ozone level is high, the Valley Air District asks
residents to cut back on pollution-causing activities such as charcoal
barbequing, gardening with gasoline-powered equipment, driving to work
alone, excessive use of motor vehicles, painting, and motor boating.
In the winter, when particulate matter is high, residents are asked to Check
Before You Burn. On those days, depending on the level of air pollution,
either wood burning is prohibited or residents are asked to burn cleanly.
Solutions to pollution are up to all of us. We can all help prevent air pollution and keep our
sky blue if we LIVE A HEALTHY AIR LIFE.
12
Activity 9:
Air Pollution Home Survey
Take this questionnaire home and fill it out with your family.
Page 1 of 2
Name:__________________________________________
POTENTIAL POLLUTERS
1. Put a check next to the products you find in
your home with the words “Hazardous,”
“Toxic,” “Danger,” “Caution,” or “Warning.”
❍
❍
❍
❍
❍
❍
❍
❍
❍
❍
❍
❍
❍
❍
❍
❍
Date:_________________________
3. Does anyone in your family regularly take
public transportation?
a. no
b. yes
Spray Paint
Paint Remover
Lighter Fluid
Bug Spray
Window Cleaner
4. Does anyone in your family regularly
walk or bicycle or skate instead of
use a car to run errands?
a. no
Furniture Polish
b. yes
Drain Opener
Disinfectant
Cleanser
Aerosol Hair Spray
Aerosol Deodorant
5. Does your family try to run several
errands at one time when taking
the car?
a. no
Nail Polish
b. yes
Nail Polish Remover
c. don’t own a car
Air Freshener
Fabric Softener Sheets
Other:
6. Is your car well-maintained?
a. no
b. yes
c. don’t own a car
DRIVING
7. Do you avoid “topping off” your gas tank?
a. no
b. yes
c. don’t own a car
2. Does anyone in your family regularly carpool?
a. no
b. yes
8. Does your family often shop by phone, mail,
or Internet?
a. no
b. yes
13
Activity 9:
Air Pollution Home Survey
Continued
Page 2 of 2
HEATING YOUR HOME
DOING YARD WORK
9. What is the primary source of heat for your
home?
13. What kind of lawn mower is
used to cut your lawn?
a. wood stove or fireplace
a. gasoline powered
b. gas or electric heater
b. electric
c. push
10. If you have a thermostat, what
temperature is it regularly set
at in the winter?
d. no lawn
a. 70° or above
b. below 70°
14. What do you use to clean up
walkways or patios?
a. gasoline-powered leaf blower
b. broom or rake
c. no walkways
or patios
BARBEQUING
11. If you barbeque, what kind of grill do you
use?
a. charcoal
b. gas or electric
15. Are pesticides used in the garden?
a. yes
b. no
c. no garden
12. Do you ever use charcoal lighter fluid?
a. yes
b. no
14
Activity 10:
What Can You Do?
After analyzing your “Air Pollution Home Survey,” answer the questions below.
What could your family do to help reduce air pollution and
LIVE A HEALTHY AIR LIFE?
What could you do personally to help reduce air pollution and
LIVE A HEALTHY AIR LIFE?
15
Activity 11: Five-Day Transportation Journal
Fill out this transportation log for the next five days.
Person
Traveling
Day 1
Day 2
16
Destination
Distance
Method of
Transport
If by Car,
Number of
People in Car
Alternative
Activity 11: Five-Day Transportation Journal
Person
Traveling
Destination
Method of
Distance
Transport
If by Car,
Number of
People in Car
Alternative
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
17
Clean Air Crossword
Activity 12:
1
2
3
6
7
4
5
8
9
Across
1. A camp____ is a source
of air pollution.
6. Particles are released
into the air when we
____ wood.
8. Gas-powered lawn
______ contribute to air
pollution.
9. _____ refer to volatile
organic compounds.
11. Gas-powered ____
blowers contribute to
air pollution.
14. _______ makes up 21%
of our air.
15. ____ mowers help
reduce air pollution.
16. Avoid _______ sprays
when possible.
18. Use a _____ instead of a
leaf blower.
19. Never burn _____ in a
fireplace.
20. We ______ the air in
many ways.
21. __________ matter is
more of a problem in
the winter.
25. The surroundings in
which we live is our
__________.
28. ____ means particulate
matter.
31. Gases or particles
released into the air are
called ________.
32. You should _____ Before
You Burn.
34. Air pollution can make
our _____ sting and
water.
36. ____ means Air Quality
Index.
37. Air pollution decreases
the function of our
_____.
18
11
12
13
10
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
29
28
26
27
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
Down
1. Harmful emissions come from burning
fossil ____.
2. Avoid using ____ spray.
3. Ozone is the main ingredient in _____.
4. Choose a solid or a ____ instead of an
aerosol spray.
5. Ozone is an odorless, colorless ____.
7. ____ refers to nitrogen oxides.
9. Most of the emissions that create
ozone come from motor ______.
10. One reason that the Valley has high
levels of air pollution is our _______.
12. ____ refers to the Environmental
Protection Agency.
13. Never burn trash in your _________.
14. The Valley’s air quality does not meet
federal or state standards for _____.
15. If possible, choose a ____ spray instead
of an aerosol.
37
17. _______means combining errands to
make only one car trip.
22. To reduce air pollution from cars, we
should _______.
23. Ozone is more of a problem in the
______.
24. Wood ______ are a source of air
pollution.
26. Use an ________ starter to light
barbeque briquettes without lighter
fluid.
27. ______ in the air is a sign of air
pollution.
29. We can all LIVE A HEALTHY ____
LIFE.
30. Burning wood puts ____ into the air.
33. Air pollution harms not only people
but also their ____.
35. NOx + VOCs + Hot ____ = Ozone.
Activity 13:
Math Message
Solve the math problems below. Then fill in the bubbles
with the letter that matches each number to read the message.
1/4 =
A
1/2 =
B
1 =C
3 21
3
x6
303
- 296
5 85
7
+ 12
2
x 7
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
9 162
6,985
- 6,972
_____
2=D
3=E
7 161
6
+7
78
- 59
_____
_____
_____
_____
10 = L
533
- 515
1 13
3
x3
1
x3
9001
- 8998
8 112
11 = M
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
2
x 9
2
x3
1 3
5314
- 5297
9 81
15
+ 8_
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
4=F
5=G
6=H
7=I
8 =J
9=K
12 = N
13 = O
14 = P
15 = Q
16 = R
17 = S
18 = T
19 = U
20 = V
1/8
+ 3/8
2
x5
852
- 833
9 27
_____
_____
_____
_____
21 = W
22 = X
23 = Y
24 = Z
19
An Elementary School Curriculum
Provided by
www.healthyairliving.com