Suzanne is a PreK- 5 Wellness teacher at Hopewell Valley Regional School District. She has been teaching for over 25 years and is the 2019 recipient of the NJ Society of Health and Physical Educators (NJSHAPE) Teacher of the Year. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she serves on many committees in the district and is a blended and personalized learning instructional coach for district faculty. Outside of school, Suzanne enjoys running, hiking, reading and spending time with her family.
In this lesson, students explore the factors that contribute to poor air quality, play a game to facilitate understanding of air quality, and create an action plan to inspire solutions in their community.
Inquire: Students discuss what they know about air quality and what affects air quality.
Investigate: Students play a classroom game called “How’s Your Atmosphere?”
Inspire: Students watch a video summarizing what is in the air we breathe and create an action plan to address air quality.
This lesson introduces the connections between air quality and environmental justice.
Inquire: Students measure and compare resting and post-movement heart rates to reflect on breathing and air quality.
Investigate: Students complete a playlist of five activities to explore how air quality impacts the respiratory system, public health, and environmental justice.
Inspire: Students analyze a statement linking air quality, health, and environmental injustice, then engage in structured discussion and movement-based reflection to share perspectives and synthesize ideas.
This lesson builds on students’ understanding of the cardiorespiratory system, showcases how climate change impacts cardiorespiratory health, and concludes with students exploring ways they can expand their actionable responses to climate change.
Inquire: Students warm up, look over the diagram of the cardiorespiratory system, and consider the questions, “What might cause harm to my cardiorespiratory system?” and “How does the quality of the air I breathe impact my lungs and my health?”
Investigate: Students play the “Catch Your Breath Game” and analyze how air quality impacts the cardiorespiratory system.
Inspire: Students consider how New Jersey organizations and stakeholders can work collaboratively to minimize the impacts of air pollution and climate change on their own health and the health of future generations.
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