Project-Based Learning

At Skyline High School in Oakland, the ScholAir Project partnered with chemistry teachers and capstone teachers to facilitate project-based learning activities. ScholAir’s PBL offers students hands-on and real-world experience for better understanding air quality and environmental issues. 

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DIY Air Filtration System

Using off-the-shelf materials, 10th grade chemistry students built DIY air filtration systems. Students learned about the impact of indoor air pollution, the properties of air pollutants and the importance, and the importance of air filtration. As part of the activity, students cut open a Merv 13 filter to better understand how they filter out harmful particles.

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DIY plans for building a low-cost air filtration system

Students constructed 20 filtration units, choosing to donate them to a local Boys and Girls Club, Oakland Athletic Club’s lacrosse team, and families of students attending East Oakland schools, including BayTech High and Brookfield Elementary. 

Two members of the Boys and Girls Club receive DIY air filtration systems
A BayTech parent receives a DIY air filtration system at the school's science fair
"I liked learning about the parts that make up an air filter. The building process was also fun."
10th Grade StudentSkyline High School
"It was fun to build my own filter with my group"
10th Grade StudentSkyline High School
"I would like more hands-on activities like building the filters"
10th Grade StudentSkyline High School

Outdoor Air Pollutant Sampling

Students used TempTop air sensors to measure amounts of PM 2.5 and CO2 in the air, recording the time and location on their phones. while pausing the measuring device to measure pollutants. The students used this data to analyze air pollution trends, comparing the air around the Skyline High School campus to air sampling data from a site in East Oakland. 

Students working with TempTop air sensors
"We are finally getting better technology to study this problem more and I am so happy that Sequoia Foundation is connecting with schools to share ideas and technology."
12th grade StudentSkyline High School

Elementary School Teach Ins

Students translated complex concepts related to their capstone projects into terms and teachings that younger children could not only understand, but have fun learning about. 

High School students discuss fossil fuels and their effects on sea level rise and ocean acidification.
Students meet with ScholAir staff over zoom to practice their presentation.

ScholAir staff met with students over zoom and in person to help them develop their presentations. Students created age-appropriate slides, hands-on activities, and explanations of climate change and air quality concepts.  

Student describes how he and his partner measured air pollution.
Students present on climate change and renewable energy.
"There's hope that the message is going around! I learned that day that sooo many kids were aware that there was a problem called air pollution"
12th Grade StudentSkyline High School
"I really enjoyed presenting in a classroom. I learned a lot about children and got better at explaining and presenting to build my skills for my final capstone presentation"
12th Grade StudentSkyline High School
"It was eye opening to see the little kids willing to learn and cooperate with the activities. It was an unexpected but fun outcome, them telling us to come back was really fun too"
12th Grade StudentSkyline High School

Hands-On Activities with Elementary School Students

Skyline students designed a coloring page for 2nd graders to help them understand the air quality color scale.
Skyline students designed a boardgame for elementary students to help them understand ocean acidification and sea level rise.
High school students designed a model that demonstrated how greenhouse gases build up in the atmosphere.
Skyline student shows 2nd graders an interactive map that displays air quality measurements around the world.
Skyline students facilitated a pinwheel-making activity with elementary school students to help them better understand wind energy.