But there is much more to air pollution than dirty air. Air pollution has been selected as the theme for this second chapter of the Environmental Education volume because it is a major environmental problem that threatens the health of human beings and other living things all over the world. In this introductory lesson, students learn about some of the signs of air pollution and its harmful effects on humans. While discussing the sources and effects of air pollution, students improve their language skills by learning and using new vocabulary and concepts associated with the topic. By examining the effects of air pollution on themselves and their own community, students can begin to appreciate how important it is to maintain good air quality.
Air pollution is a huge topic.
A 50-minute lesson, such as the one outlined in the section on Classroom Applications , provides only a brief overview of some of the issues that are involved. If time allows, teachers are advised to combine or follow up this lesson with some of the materials outlined in the section on Internet Resources to create a more extensive teaching unit. Air pollution is any visible or invisible substance found in the air that is not part of the normal composition of air. Some air pollution is natural and has always been a part of the earth's history. However, over the past one hundred years or so, pollution created by humans has become a major environmental problem.