Our Air: The Quest for Quality
Focus Question: What can we do to preserve air quality for present and future generations?
Photo credit: Time to Think by Indraneel Biswas is licensed under CC by 2.0
Air pollution is an international concern, with our learners serving as the next generation of stewards for our precious resource. At the heart of this unit is inquiry as learners see the connection to their personal health, develop a knowledge base about air quality issues, and role play an authentic scenario to develop solutions for improving air quality in our local and world community. This unit motivates learners to act upon this new understanding for the common good.
The intent of this lesson is to illustrate the relationship between air quality and its critical role in personal health concerns. Consequently, the awareness gained will serve to develop a sense of urgency in the quest for clean air.
Learners will have an opportunity to investigate the multi-faceted concern of air pollution. While researching individually, learners will then share findings to broaden their knowledge base and clarify problems for concern. The learners will also analyze perspectives of involved groups who are working to address air pollution. Learners will be involved in a role play to develop a strategy for addressing air quality concerns. Consequently, the complexity of problems and solutions will be revealed. This lesson will also serve as the first of two parts in planning for a strategy, whether collective or individual, for the common good.
This lesson will serve as the final learning piece, and the accumulated knowledge will be used to assist the learners in utilizing a role play scenario to come to a consensus plan of action that moves “their community” toward compliance with Air Quality Standards (AQI).This unit is also intended to inspire personal or group action plan for promoting the common good. Academic service learning options will be made available for the learners to plan how to be engaged in direct service, indirect service or take an advocacy position that addresses concerns about air quality.