IAQ Curricula
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A good indoor environment promotes health and productivity. Integrating your school’s IAQ programs into your class curriculum can empower and educate your students while simultaneously improving IAQ. Topics covered in IAQ programs include environmental science, chemistry, statistics, math, and others. Many schools throughout the country have experienced great success involving students in their IAQ programs.
Individual students or environmental science clubs can participate in or take the lead in developing an IAQ management program consistent with EPA's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) Program guidance, allowing them to learn about the environment while improving conditions in their schools. By teaching students about the indoor and outdoor environments, they will help protect the environment throughout their lives.
- Teachers reported increased class participation, greater respect for the classroom environment, and increased awareness of how personal actions affect the environment
- Parents reported that their children apply lessons learned in the IAQ curriculum to their home environment, as well
- Involving students in IAQ programs has also helped gain the attention and support of school boards and school business officials
Resources
IAQ Lesson Plans
The National Education Association Health Information Network (NEA HIN) has created a series of hands-on, interactive lesson plans geared towards grades K-12 that supplement the U.S. EPA’s IAQ Tools for Schools Program. All lesson plans are tied to state education standards and can be easily integrated into your school district’s curriculum. Many of the lessons can be adapted to any grade level, can be used as independent activities, or combined to create an 'IAQ unit'.
Student/Teacher IAQ Activities Listserv
EPA and the National Education Association have launched a Web-based distribution list to help teachers exchange ideas for improving the indoor environment, while at the same time achieving their academic goals. NEA established this listserv to promote communication between teachers who have developed student activities, or who wish to develop student activities, related to indoor air quality and the IAQ TfS Program.
- To join NEA's listserv, please go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StudentandTeacherIAQActivities.
Special Achievement Award Winners
Learn how two school districts involve students in their IAQ efforts.
- East Valley School District, Spokane, WA
- Ephrata School District, Ephrata, WA