This video outlines the history of the Clean Air Act and how it has helped improve air quality in the United States by limiting harmful pollutants.
Personal and systemic actions that can help improve air quality are presented, including reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, investing in clean energy, and conserving energy in daily life.
The video specifically emphasizes electric and hybrid vehicles as a way to reduce air pollution.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The video gives actionable steps students can take in their daily life to help keep our air clean.
The interactive quiz allows students to test their understanding with immediate feedback.
Additional Prerequisites
Standards for AP Environmental Science are included under the video.
There is a time-stamped transcript available for students to follow along, as well as closed captioning and subtitles.
Differentiation
In a civics class, students could further research the impact of the Clean Air Act and the Environmental Protection Agency, or identify other policies or government agencies that help protect the environment.
The video shares the story of a specific town's experience with air pollution. Students could use this as inspiration to research how their community has been affected by air pollution.
Biology and health classes could investigate the negative health effects of air pollution using the story of Donora as an example.
Other stories of air pollution in specific areas include this video about the Bronx and this lesson about Illinois.
This 7-minute video presents the history of air pollution regulations in the United States, starting with a major pollution event in Donora, PA that killed 20 people. It walks through the history of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Clean Air Act and highlights additional strategies that can be used to further reduce air pollution. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS-ESS3-4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Civics
D2.Civ.12.9-12 Analyze how people use and challenge local, state, national, and international laws to address a variety of public issues.
D2.Civ.5.9-12 Evaluate citizens' and institutions' effectiveness in addressing social and political problems at the local, state, tribal, national, and/or international level.
Dimension 2: History
D2.His.1.9-12 Evaluate how historical events and developments were shaped by unique circumstances of time and place as well as broader historical contexts.
