Outdoor Air Quality and Schools

• Weather, winds, the path of wildfires, and other factors can change quickly and affect air quality, so it is important to be aware of conditions at a particular school site
• Schools may need to reschedule outdoor activities

For more information, see our new fact sheet on Outdoor Air Quality and Schools:

Classroom Presentations

The District offers countywide classroom presentations for K-12th grades and college classes with lessons on our atmosphere, air pollution, global climate change, and what we can do to make a difference.

To schedule a presentation, contact us via email at [email protected]. See more resources on this page.

Clean Air Ambassadors

Clean Air Ambassadors are trained to present an innovative, interactive curriculum that meets California’s Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) to students in K-3 grade. The lessons explore concepts such as pollution and sustainability, and promote environmental literacy. Students will conduct experiments to explore processes such as global weather patterns and air filtration, and learn about ways they can help improve air quality.

Please see here for more information or contact us via email at [email protected] if you are interested in having us come to your classroom.

OR please fill out this Google Form to request a visit!

Mr. Eco Presentations

The District sponsored assemblies in some Santa Barbara County schools to bring in Mr. Eco, an environmental rap superhero who teaches elementary school students that they have the power to protect the environment as “EcoHeroes”.  Mr. Eco’s shows are not only educational, but also extremely engaging as students learn environmental song lyrics and dance moves, answer jeopardy questions, and feel empowered to make change in the environment at a young age. For more information and all of Mr. Eco’s videos, visit his website.

Mr. Eco, his sidekick and nephew Lil Nico, and District Public Outreach Intern Chris Hewes

Students take the EcoHero pledge after learning about protecting ecosystems, wildfire, and clean air. 

Information on this Site

Safe Routes to School discusses efforts to encourage kids to bike or walk to school (or carpool or take the bus).

Air Pollutants & Your Health describes the pollutants of greatest concern in Santa Barbara County, and their health effects.

Today’s Air Quality provides air quality information for Santa Barbara County.

Ozone data shows levels of ground-level ozone measured at county monitoring stations, updated hourly on this website.

Toolkit to Reduce Diesel Emissions at Schools provides resources for schools to hear about effects of diesel exhaust pollution, and reduce emissions.

Classroom Activities and Lesson Plans

Air Quality and Air Pollution

Videos are available free in English and Spanish from the California Air Resources Board, click on the title to go to the order page on the state’s website: “A Breath of Air: What Pollution is Doing to Our Children,” and “With Every Breath: Health Effects of Smog”.

Lessons and activities for K-12 from Project A.I.R.E. (Air Information Resources for Educators) are available for download (free) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website.

Air Pollution: What’s the Solution? activities from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency curricula help students learn about ground-level ozone.

The National Science Teachers Association includes lesson plans and activities to teach air quality concepts – search at NSTA Science Store under the term of interest.

The California Air Resources Board website’s Know Zone page includes information on air pollution, lesson plans, and resources for students: www.arb.ca.gov/knowzone/knowzone.htm.

Alternative transportation

Safe Routes to School Lesson Plans for the Classroom , developed by Marin County teachers, includes plans for multiple grade levels. (For more on the Safe Routes to School program locally, see this page.)

For more information on local programs encouraging alternative transportation, see Traffic Solutions’ webpage here:  www.trafficsolutions.org.

Community Events

Community events like Earth Day offer an opportunity to showcase environmental education projects. Read more about Earth Day.

Additional Links for Teachers and Schools

National Science Teachers Association

The CREEC Network (California Regional Environmental Education Community Network) — Information about environmental education resources for teachers, including a Resource Directory for Region 8 (Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and Kern Counties). See http://www.creec.org/custom/14.

EPA Office of Environmental Education — Kids’ page, teachers’ page, regional programs, students’ page

School Health page from California Air Resources Board — Environmental health conditions at schools and resources to reduce pollution

American Lung Association — How Your Lungs Work

Think Earth Environmental Education Program — Curriculum for middle school about conserving natural resources, reducing waste, and minimizing pollution

Safe Routes to Schools — Lesson Plans for the Classroom developed by Marin County teachers for multiple grade levels

Children’s Health Protection — Information on protecting children’s health from environmental hazards

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection — Curriculum and classroom activities

US Department of Energy Fuel Economy Guide — See how your car measures up

NASA’s Classroom of the Future

NASA Earth Science Enterprise — Teacher guides

National Environmental Education Foundation

IAQ Tools for Schools Program — EPA’s program on indoor air quality

US Department of Education

UCI Science Education Programs — Science education programs for teachers