What does a beautiful sunset have to do with the atmosphere? An inquiry-based lesson has learners make observations about the visibility and color of the sky during different time periods. They then relate their observations to atmospheric aerosols.

Concepts

the sky, air pollution, pollution, water, the atmosphere, the earth's atmosphere

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Instructional Ideas

• Repeat the observations during different seasons and compare results
• Partner with schools in different areas, rural, urban, and suburban, to compare observations

Classroom Considerations

• Activity ideally spans several days and different time periods throughout the day

Pros

• Modifications help meet different grade level objectives
• Includes a student handout to record observations and reflect on the data

Cons

• None