7th Grade Air Quality Lesson Plan Example (Science)

Topic: air quality in New York

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to explain the causes and effects of air pollution in New York and the surrounding areas.

Materials

• Maps of the northeastern United States
• Pictures of air pollution sources (e.g. cars, factories, power plants)
• Handouts with information about air pollution and its health effects

Warm-up

• Ask students if they have ever experienced any type of air pollution before.
• Ask them to describe the experience and what they saw and felt.
• Write their responses on the board and discuss as a class.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the topic of air quality and explain that it refers to the quality of the air we breathe.
• Discuss the different types of air pollutants and their effects on the body and the environment.
• Show images or videos of air pollution and discuss their causes and effects.
• Explain the importance of protecting air quality and how we can do this through awareness, legislation, and individual action.

Guided Practice

• Divide the class into small groups and give each group a set of images or videos of air pollution.
• Have the groups analyze the images and discuss the causes and effects of air pollution.
• Have each group present their findings to the class and discuss how they can take action to protect air quality.

Independent Practice

• Have students choose one aspect of air quality to research in more detail. This could be a specific type of air pollution, a specific area of the city, or a specific method for reducing air pollution.
• Have students create a presentation or poster to share their findings with the class.

Closure

• Have students reflect on what they have learned about air quality in New York City. What are the most common types of air pollution and where do they come from? What are the health implications of air pollution?-Ask students to brainstorm ways that they can help reduce air pollution in their own lives, such as using public transportation, carpooling, or turning off appliances when they are not in use.

Assessment

• Assessment can be done by observing students' participation in discussions and group activities, as well as the quality of their project presentations. You can also have students complete a short quiz on the topic of air quality in New York City, covering key vocabulary and concepts covered in the lesson.