Neighborhood Science

Monitoring Air Quality (Android-Only Sensor)

Why Do Scientists Monitor Air Quality?

Humans, animals, and plants all need clean air to live and thrive. Monitoring air quality in your neighborhood identifies areas where pollution is a problem and helps researchers find solutions.

AirBeam 2 kit with its contents

What's in the Kit?

  • 1 AirBeam2 air quality sensor
  • 1 USB-C charging cord
  • 1 Carabiner clip
  • 1 WiFi Digital Microscope
  • 1 Micro-USB data/charging cable
  • 1 10x Magnifying glass
  • 1 Observation journal
  • 1 Pen
  • 1 instructions packet

Monitoring Air Quality Curriculum

Lessons

Lessons are short moments of NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)- aligned direct instruction, delivered in video or slide format, that inform participants of the knowledge necessary to participate in Citizen Science activities.

Activities

Activities frame moments of Citizen Science participation through hands-on exploration and creation, including using the Neighborhood Science kits to collect data.

What Is Air Quality?

20-minute lesson

Air quality is a measure of how clean or polluted the air is. Monitoring air quality is important because polluted air can harm our health—and the environment.

Sensing Air Quality

50-minute activity

Sensing and understanding our local air quality is the first step to improving the air we breathe. In this activity, we will use the kit to view and measure air pollutants.

Improving Air Quality

20-minute lesson

The more we learn about air quality, the more informed we are about why we should improve it and how we can make changes to our lives to reduce our exposure to air pollution.

Standards & Learning Outcomes