Introduction
For breath is life, so if you breathe well you will live long on earth. – Sanskrit Proverb
During a worldwide pandemic, masks are required to be worn to shield us from transmitting sickness or becoming ill, but air pollution is causing alarming health risks on its own account especially in the very place we spend much of our time and relaxation- our own homes. We spend more than 90% of our time indoors be it in our workplace or our homes. Breathing is a critical and essential tool to sustaining life. Each day we breathe in an amalgamation of substances in the air. These substances that are the main contributors released into earth’s atmosphere can consist of car emissions, dirt, dust, chemicals, fossil fuels, pollen, smoke and household chemicals from within our homes. Historically urban areas have been affected by air pollution at high rates due to the fact of proximity of chemical plants and highways, but our homes are actually a bigger culprit that restricts quality breathing than others. These pollutants reduce the quality of air in which elevates the risks for various health issues amongst children or students who are one of the most vulnerable populations. The repercussions of an underprivileged environment results in academic performance because attendance, comprehension, and participation can determine the success outcome. Health issues play a major role and correlation in students’ success because if students are not at school, they are not learning to the best of their ability. The lack of educational stimulation will lead to the regression and the slowing of knowledge retention.
For the following unit, students will look at the impact of indoor air quality as it pertains to our health. Students will examine urban areas quality of air and household contributing factors. They will also decide which type of pollutant contributes the most to the onset of health issues such as chronic illnesses like lung disease, bronchitis and mainly asthma. The ultimate goal of the unit is to facilitate a learning environment conducive to cause and effect of health issues as it relates to our indoor air quality. Students will become familiar with the respiratory system and the function of lungs. They will also examine damage that is occurs when foreign subjects enter the lungs from inhaling various substances. The students will track indoor air quality over a period of time each day. As a fifteen-year veteran teacher, it’s my goal to make sure that the curriculum unit will encompass strategies for cooperative learning, small differentiated learning stations, higher order thinking by using inquiry-based instruction, hands-on learning, experiential learning, student- led learning and virtual learning opportunities. The students will also utilize visual aids and technology to support their understanding. These methods will bridge the gap between health literacy, ways to avoid and protect respiratory issues, and an overall understanding of air quality in our homes.
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