STem education program for AIR pollution in schools (STAIR)
Programme Erasmus+ Cooperation partnerships in School Education (Call 2022: KA210-SCH)
The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Why measure air quality in schools?
Numerous studies have shown that indoor air pollution, along with microclimatic comfort, is an important factor affecting the health of students and staff, especially for the most vulnerable groups such as children, adolescents and allergy and asthma sufferers.
The presence of pollutants in the indoor air of classrooms and school environments is due not only to outdoor pollution but also to the structural characteristics of the school building.
Set of tools
Teachers who use this toolkit will gain the knowledge and competencies needed to support and promote a healthier approach to the indoor environment in their regular classrooms, in order to pass on these competencies to their students. The toolkit is intended to be a practical tool that teachers can use in the classroom as a teaching tool to develop competencies.
The main topics addressed in the toolkit include:
- Understanding the key concepts of the main biological and physical principles that regulate the health of our bodies and how the environment affects them;
- Understanding how to design a healthier environment in your school;
- Understand how a healthier work/study/living environment could positively impact their quality of life.
Experiments (school activities)
Experiment 1
Gaseous components of air
Determine how the different molecules of gases (in this case oxygen and carbon dioxide) that make up the mixture usually called air can affect the chemical process.
Experiment 2
Production of black carbon
The aim is to observe black carbon escaping from the production source and experience its nature as a solid and still combustible coal molecule despite its low mass, which is carried by gases such as carbon dioxide.
Experiment 3
Humidity in hot and cold air
The aim of the experiment is to measure how air temperature affects the relative humidity in a room using an Arduino-based thermohygrometer with the DHT22 sensor from the STAIR air quality controller.
Experiment 4 Different pressures for cold and warm air
The aim is to observe black carbon escaping from the production source and experience its nature as a solid and still combustible coal molecule despite its low mass, which is carried by gases such as carbon dioxide.
Experiment 4 Does your classroom meet the temperature and humidity requirements?
The aim is to analyse, through a series of measurements designed and carried out by the students concerning humidity and air temperature, whether the classroom complies with the applicable regulations.
Project partners
