Student Representatives Current Projects

PROJECT SUMMARY

Something’s in the Air is a curricular project designed for the participation of individual classes from 15 East Bay Area high schools.  The purpose of the project is to educate students about the quality of air in their schools and communities and its relation to the incidence of asthma. Something’s in the Air  will use hands-on learning to reveal to the students how asthma disproportionately affects underserved communities and that they, the students, can take action towards healthy governmental change.  As a result, the students will come to see themselves as leaders and educators in their local communities and beyond.

Detailed information on “Something’s in the Air” is available below; for more information, please contact Chicory Bechtel, Program Director, at 510-704-4030 or chicory@earthteam.net.

To register to participate in the curriculum, which will be piloting in January 2007, download the “School Participation Agreement” here and follow the directions for submission.

“SOMETHING’S IN THE AIR” PROJECT MATERIALS

Each class will:

	take a pre-test about air pollution and asthma.
	hear 3 speakers on separate days – one on indoor air quality, one on outdoor air quality, and one on asthma.  **To schedule speakers, contact Chicory Bechtel at 510-704-4030 or chicory@earthteam.net
	take a post-test about air pollution and asthma.

Click here to download the “Something’s in the Air” Teachers Manual.

Click here to input your class data on the SITA Data Spreadsheet.

“Something’s in the Air” Pre/Post Test

Pre/Post Test Answer Key

“Something’s in the Air” Final Evaluation for Teachers & Students

Indoor Air Quality
Learning: Students will learn about the factors that affect the quality of the air inside their schools and classrooms.
Hands-on: Students will use a modified version of the EPA “Tools for Schools” checklist for indoor air quality to evaluate the air quality within their school environment.

Indoor Air Quality Comic Book

Indoor Air Quality Checklist

Outdoor Air Quality
Learning: Students will learn about the different kinds of air pollution, the factors that contribute to air pollution, and the meaning of the various air quality ratings. (Based on the EPA curriculum, “Air Pollution, What’s the Solution?”)
Hands-on: Students will use a basic measurement device to conduct on-site basic air testing through collecting and counting particulate matter. They will  compare their data to local particulate data from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the EPA.

Sources of Particulates Worksheet

Particulate Matter Investigation Directions

Particulate Matter Investigation Worksheet

People at Risk Worksheet

Asthma
Learning: Students will learn about how the lungs work and what asthma is.  They will also learn the various triggers and treatments for asthma, with a focus on the connection between poor air quality and asthma.
Hands-on: Students will conduct anonymous health surveys to determine the incidence of asthma and asthma-related problems within their school community.

Click here to access the “Improving Your Community’s Asthma Problem” module

Student Health Survey

Environmental Justice
Learning: Students will post the results of the air quality data and the asthma surveys on the EarthTeam website where they and the general public can compare the data from school to school.

Multi-Media Component
All portions of the project will be videotaped at a variety of schools for inclusion in an Air Pollution and Asthma Show on The Green Screen, EarthTeam’s  monthly cable TV show with the cast and crew from Richmond area schools.  The show will be shown throughout the East Bay to many thousands.  Additionally, a group of student representatives from the classes will be interviewed about their experiences for The Green Screen.

CURRICULUM FOCUS AND GRADE LEVEL

The subject areas covered include Careers, Health, Science, and Social Studies for grade levels 9-12.

“Something’s in the Air” meets multiple Content Standards specified by the California Board of Education, including:

•  Science Content Standards (Grades 9-12) in Biology/Life Sciences, specifically: Physiology (students will have a overview of respiratory function and how it is impaired in asthma), Ecology (students will review stability or lack thereof in an ecosystem, focusing on how air is a crucial part of ecosystems), and Investigation and Experimentation (students will be using appropriate tools and technology to “investigate a science-based societal issue by researching the literature, analyzing data, and communicating the findings.” Science Content Standards, Investigation & Experimentation – Grades 9 to 12)

•  History-Social Science Content Standards (Grade 12), specifically: Principles of American Democracy 12.7 (Students analyze and compare the powers and procedures of the national, state, tribal, and local governments) and 12.8 (Students evaluate and take and defend positions on the influence of the media on American political life), and Principles of Economics 12.3.1 (Understand how the role of government in a market economy often includes providing for national defense, addressing environmental concerns, defining and enforcing property rights, attempting to make markets more competitive, protecting consumers’ rights).

•  Health Framework for California Public Schools (High School), particularly the content areas of Personal Health, Community Health, and Environmental Health.

Click here for a List of Helpful Websites