Rules That Keep Our Air Clean
Take a big, slow breath in. Then let it out. You just breathed AIR! You do it about 20,000 times every single day without even thinking about it. We all share the same air. That is why grown-ups make special RULES to keep the air clean, so everyone can breathe safe, fresh breaths.
What You'll Learn
- Why clean air matters for people, animals, and plants. - What can make air dirty. - How rules help keep our air clean and safe.
What Makes Air Dirty?
Sometimes air gets dirty. We call dirty air POLLUTION. Thick smoke from a factory can make air dirty. Lots of cars puffing out gas can too. Even a big bonfire makes smoke. Dirty air can make people cough and make it hard to breathe.
Rules Help Everyone
A RULE is something we agree to do to keep everyone safe. You have rules at school, like 'walk, don't run.' Grown-up leaders make BIG rules for clean air. One rule says factories must put special filters on their smokestacks, like a giant mask, to catch the dirty bits before they float away. Another rule helps make cars that puff out much less smoke.
Trees are clean-air heroes! Leaves drink in the yucky stuff and breathe out fresh air for us. One big tree can clean the air for a whole family. That is why cities plant so many trees.
You Can Help Too
You are never too small to help the air! Walking or biking instead of riding in a car keeps the air cleaner. Turning off lights you are not using helps too, because making power can make smoke. Planting a tiny plant or tree is like giving the whole world a fresh breath of air.
Flashcards — click each card to reveal the answer
Why do leaders make rules about clean air?
Match each thing to whether it helps clean air or makes it dirty.
Terms
Definitions
Drag terms onto their definitions, or click a term then click a definition to match.
Which of these helps keep the air CLEAN?
Be a Clean-Air Helper
Pick ONE way to help the air this week. 1) Choose from: walk or bike somewhere, turn off lights you don't need, or help plant a seed or small plant. 2) Do it with a grown-up. 3) Draw a picture of your clean-air job and tell someone how it helps everyone breathe better!
We all share the same air. When you take good care of it, you take care of your family, your friends, the animals, and yourself. Every clean breath counts!
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