American Lung Association: State of the Air Report

• This report provides summarized air quality findings for the United States, a searchable database for air quality by zip code, "report cards" for the cleanest and most polluted cities, connections to health and demographics, and recommendations for taking action to prevent air pollution. 
• The information presented is comprehensive and up-to-date. 

Positives:

• This website report is broken down into various topics, making it easier to digest; it also presents the data in graphs and diagrams to help students visualize the data.
• The interactive portions of this resource allow students to explore different parts of the United States. 

Additional Prerequisites:

• Students should know how to read a bar graph and pie chart.

Differentiation:

• Cross-curricular connections could be made with classes covering social justice, environmental justice, civics, climate change, and human health.
• Have students access the report card for a state or ZIP code of interest. Allow students to explore the data and ask questions. What are they surprised by? What is not surprising? 
• As an extension, consider having students get involved in a local initiative to improve their air quality. There are several recommendations for action listed in the resource that students of any age could try.
• Individuals or groups of students could draft letters to their local, state, or national government officials to request they enact or support the enforcement of air quality regulations.