Take Care of Indoor Air

  • Made By CUP With:
  • Students
  • Tags:
  • Education,
  • Environment,
  • Health

Students explore air quality in NYC public schools.

Students share drawings that represent what they think a good learning environment looks like.
Students use homemade tissue paper devices to test the air flow at different locations throughout the school.

Studies have shown that indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times higher than outside pollutants. What is good air quality? Do we have good air quality in our schools? How can bad air quality impact students and communities?

In the spring of 2022, Teaching Artist Cody Herrmann collaborated with students from the International High School for Health Sciences to take a closer look at air quality in schools. To investigate the issue, students talked to community members in Elmhurst, interviewed stakeholders working on the issue, and created mixed media mobiles to process the information.

The team gathered what they learned and created this booklet to teach others about indoor air quality, how it impacts students and the community at large, and what changes we need to improve the quality of air in our school.

Check out more photos of students in action here!

Students ask community members about their thoughts on air quality inside schools.
Students conduct a virtual interview of Tracy Enger about her work with the Indoor Environments Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"I want others to know that air quality matters for students and the community because with good air quality, we reduce the risk of developing diseases."

— Angeles Perez, IHSHS student

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Project Collaborators

Educational Partner

International High School for Health Sciences
Andre Machado
Anthony Finney
Heather Cristol

Teaching Artist

Cody Herrmann

Students

Lester Acosta, Youssef Ahmed, Rocan Ahmed, Anthony Alvarez Romero, Ana Arce Cuahutla, Surya Bhatt, Prashant Bohara, Kevin Cabreba, Santiago Caiza, Brian Cardenas-Osorio, Tatiana Chaso, Jimmy Chavez, Anahi Chito Marjorie, Alexis Cuji Chango, Karen Curicama, Yadely Erazo, Tatiana Espinoza, Ariel Estevez, Ritzy Eufragio Galdamez, Juan Carlos Garcia, Yadira Guilca Zumba, Suly Gusman, Junqi Huang, Edison Huerta, Pesantez Paulo Illescas, Yleth Juan, Anshu Khatiwada, Kelly Lema, Emelyn Lema, Jacqueline Lema, Wildja Lindor, Stephen Marino, Andy Martinez Juarez, Wilmer Mateo-Baez, Marcelo Miraya, Sara Munoz Penaloza, Jeremy Nunez, Angel Nunez, Apexa Patel, Josue Patino, Evelyn Peralta, Angeles Perez, Cristopher Pui, Ratchaphum Rittaprom, Denis Roldan, Daniel Ricardo Sanchez, Christine Santos, Katherin Sela, Isaura Sopa, Kelvin Suero, Shahoreer Reza Talha, Santiago Gas Tec Cuz, Ronald Tenempaguay Lem, Cristian Tixi Herrera, Paulina Tuapanta, Jenru Vera, Francisco Vicente Chali, Kamaay Voltaire Elle, Wilson Yaguachi, Kevin Zapata, Yingkang Zhou

Special Thanks

Tracy Enger, Council Member Shekar Krishnan, Brian Vant-Hull

Product Details

16 pages

Funding Support

This project was made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.