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Clear the Air: Kids Activities
Clear the Air: Kids ActivitiesNow is a great time for a science lesson on indoor air quality. We pulled together some useful information and fun activities for parents and children to do together to up their air IQ.
Clear the Air: Kids ActivitiesNow is a great time for a science lesson on indoor air quality. We pulled together some useful information and fun activities for parents and children to do together to up their air IQ.
Clear the Air: Kids ActivitiesNow is a great time for a science lesson on indoor air quality. We pulled together some useful information and fun activities for parents and children to do together to up their air IQ.
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Air Quality Activity 1: Did You Know?
NASA Climate Kids recently shared amazing facts about air and its impact on our everyday life. Here are five of our favorites to talk about as a family:
- Our air is made up of approximately 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, and a tiny bit of other gases like carbon dioxide, neon and hydrogen.
- Breathing is part of a process called respiration, which is when a living thing takes in oxygen from the air and puts out carbon dioxide.
- Air holds water, which causes it to be humid sometimes. Outside, relative humidity is the amount of water the air can hold before it rains. If the relative humidity hits 100 percent, it may rain. Inside, if the relative humidity is too high it can contribute to mold growth.
- Air also holds lots of tiny particles, called aerosols, and some, like dust and pollen, are picked up when the wind blows.
- Air pollution occurs when something harmful is in the air. Outdoor air pollution is measured with the Air Quality Index (AQI). The lower the AQI, the cleaner the air is: 0-50 is good; 50-100 is moderate; and values above 100 start to become unhealthy.
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Air Quality Activity 2: I Spy
On Monday, have your child put a small piece of Scotch® Tape on a house vent (if you have more than one child, have each put a piece of tape on a different air register). Remove the tape on Friday and talk about what’s stuck to it. Lint? Dog hair or cat fur? Air filters work in a similar way, pulling in and capturing a percentage of tiny airborne particles.
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Air Quality Activity 3: True or False
Think you know everything about the air in your house? Now’s your chance to prove it! Circle T or F below, and check how you did with the answers on page 3.
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Air Quality Activity 4: Particle Size, Smallest to Largest
Air particles are many sizes and shapes—and even vary in their composition. If you look at the air in your home, most of the particles floating around are too small to see. For example, a single strand of hair is 30 times larger than fine inhalable particles, a special category of particulate matter (PM) that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller. Put the following particles in order from smallest (1) to largest (12), and find the answers on page 3.
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Air Quality Activity 5: Particle Match
Filtrete™ Filters can capture many airborne particles. Draw a line to match the particle name to the icon, and find the answers on Page 3.
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Activity 4 source:
EPA: https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/particulate-matter-pm-basics 2017 ASHRAE Fundamentals Ch 11: https://www.ashrae.org/ technical-resources/ashrae-handbook/description-2017-ashraehandbook-fundamentals
Air Quality Activity 6: Filtrete™ Filter Finder
It’s never too early (or too late) to learn about the importance of indoor air quality. When it’s time to get a new HVAC filter, gather your family and go through this flow chart together to find out which one is best for your household. Whether you’re trying to capture bacteria, viruses, pet dander, pollen, or all of the above, this filter finder will lead you in the right direction—and kids will learn something new along the way.
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