LAB · MIDDLE SCHOOL (6–8)

🌬️ Lungs & Air Quality

Your lungs move ~11,000 liters of air daily. What’s in that air — and who lives near pollution sources — is a science AND justice issue.

Progress: 0 / 4 stages complete

How to do this lab — read me first!

1.Take the pre-quiz below. Type your answer into the box for each question — it's okay if you're not sure! This shows what you already know. Spelling doesn't have to be perfect, and CAPS or lowercase both work the same.
2.Read the lab sections below the quiz — they explain the science in plain words. Tap "Go deeper" on any card for extra info.
3.Work through each lab module by tapping the bubbles near the top. Read it, then press "Mark module complete" to unlock the next one.
4.Do the hands-on sorting activity — use the up/down arrows to put the items in the right order, then press Check my order.
5.Take the post-quiz. It unlocks after you finish everything above. Type your answers in — short answers are fine, just write the main idea.
6.Sign in to save your scores and earn a badge. No account? You can still explore the whole lab.

💡 Stuck on a question? Scroll back and re-read the section about it, then return and try again. There's no time limit!

📝 Pre-quiz — what do you already know?

✏️ Type your answer in the box. Spelling close enough is OK — UPPER or lower case both work.

1. AQI stands for…

2. Asthma is more common in…

3. Indoor air can be…

4. PM2.5 is dangerous specifically because…

5. ‘Redlining’ relates to air quality because…

6. An AQI of 175 is in which category?

7. Gas stoves indoors release…

How lungs work

Air enters → travels down branching tubes → reaches alveoli (300+ million per lung) → oxygen crosses into blood, CO₂ goes the other way.

Go deeper

Spread flat, your alveoli would cover a tennis court. Pollution irritates and scars them; chronic exposure shrinks lung capacity for life.

What hurts lungs

· Smoking and vaping (worst single thing)
· PM2.5 (wildfire smoke, traffic, industry)
· Mold and dust indoors
· Long-term exposure to cleaning chemicals

Environmental justice

Highways, factories, and refineries are disproportionately placed near low-income communities of color — driving higher asthma and disease rates.

Go deeper

Studies in cities like LA, Houston, and Chicago show ZIP code can predict asthma rates better than genetics. This isn’t accident — it reflects decades of zoning, redlining, and infrastructure decisions.

Clear the air

· Check AQI before heavy outdoor activity
· Ventilate when cooking (gas stoves emit pollutants)
· HEPA filters reduce indoor PM2.5
· Indoor plants help only a little — filters matter more
· Advocate for clean-air policy + green spaces

Key vocabulary

Alveoli: Tiny air sacs in the lungs where oxygen and CO₂ swap with blood.
AQI: Air Quality Index — a 0–500 daily score of how polluted the air is.
PM2.5: Particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers — small enough to enter the bloodstream.
Environmental justice: The fight for fair distribution of environmental benefits AND harms (clean air, parks, pollution).

Lab modules

Work through each module in order. Mark each one complete to unlock the post-quiz.

How lungs breathe

Your lungs move ~11,000 L of air a day. Alveoli (300+ million per lung) are where oxygen and CO₂ swap with blood.

Anatomy

· Trachea → bronchi → bronchioles → alveoli
· Spread flat, alveoli would cover a tennis court
· Diaphragm muscle pulls air in
· Mucus + cilia trap and sweep out particles

Gas exchange

Oxygen crosses one cell layer into the blood. CO₂ goes the other way. Anything that scars or inflames alveoli (smoke, pollution, vaping) lowers lifetime capacity.

Key takeaways from this module

Lungs have huge but fragile surface area.
Scarring is mostly permanent.
Vaping damages alveoli too — not 'safer water vapor'.

Hands-on activity: Path of an oxygen molecule

Order the journey of an O₂ molecule from outside air to a muscle cell.

1.Alveoli
2.Cross into bloodstream
3.Muscle cell uses it
4.Trachea
5.Outside air
6.Heart pumps it
7.Bronchi → bronchioles
8.Nose / mouth (filter + warm)

Apply it — real-world challenge

Check your local AQI for a week. Note pollution sources you can see (highways, factories) and how AQI changes with weather/wildfires.

Post-quiz locked

Finish all 4 lab modules (0/4 done). Complete the hands-on activity above.