The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ), in partnership with the University of Arizona, has launched a new free high school environmental education curriculum that helps students learn about air quality using real-time data collected from air quality sensors located at schools throughout Pima County.
Developed through the Expanding Air Quality Monitoring at Pima County Schools to Address Environmental Justice project, the curriculum aligns with Arizona science standards and National Health Education standards. It gives students hands-on experience exploring air pollution, public health, environmental justice, community science, and data analysis using local environmental information. The project was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the American Rescue Plan Clean Air Act Special Purpose Activities Grant Program.
The curriculum, Empowering Students Through School-Based Air Quality Data in Pima County, Arizona: A High School Curriculum Using Real-Time Data from Local Air Quality Sensors, includes seven lessons for grades 9–12. Instead of using sample, or hypothetical datasets, students analyze real-time and historical air quality data from PDEQ monitoring stations and school-based sensors. Using the Sonoran Unified Network of Sensors for Environmental Tracking (SUNSET) dashboard, students can view pollution levels, compare locations, identify trends, and explore how environmental conditions affect local air quality.
The curriculum was developed by PDEQ, University of Arizona research professors from the Asthma & Airway Disease Research Center and the Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, public health and environmental education experts, and student interns. It was reviewed to ensure scientific accuracy, classroom usability, and alignment with education standards.
PDEQ also created a free downloadable educator toolkit that includes lesson summaries and instructional videos showing teachers how to access and use air quality data from the SUNSET dashboard and PDEQ’s air monitoring website for classroom activities.
The curriculum will be available by request through the PDEQ website, allowing the department to track its long-term use and impact.
For more information, contact Natalie Shepp at natalie.shepp@pima.gov.
