I bet you didnt knowComputers can measure the

I bet you didn’t know…Computers can measure the happiness of a city Teacher Guide Curriculum Areas Gases Pollution Interpreting graphs Ages 7 -11

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What did the scientists know? Air pollution in cities around the world is a huge threat to human health. The pollution is a result of fumes from burning fossil fuels like coal and oil; it increases with high levels of traffic, factories and power stations PM 2. 5 is the most prominent air pollutant in Chinese cities. It is made up of grains of solid 100 times smaller than a grain of sand! PM 2. 5 is dangerous because it can hang in air for a long time and is so tiny it can enter deep into the lungs. This increases heart and lung diseases, and cancers. In 2016, the Word Health Organisation estimated that exposure to PM 2. 5 caused 4. 2 million premature deaths worldwide. Sand particles in an electron microscope measuring approximately 200 - 300 μm

What did the scientists do? In China there is a large social media platform known as Weibo - pronounced ‘way-bo’ which is monitored by the Chinese government. The scientists designed a computer to read people’s messages and measure their happiness. They then compared the happiness scores to the levels of PM 2. 5 in each city. What do you think the researchers found out? Can you draw a graph to show what you think they found out? PM 2. 5

What did the scientists find out? As the pollution of PM 2. 5 increased, people’s happiness decreased. Not all the data points fit exactly on this line and the scientists were able to show that happiness was higher at the weekends; when it wasn’t cloudy and when temperatures were around 17. 5 ⁰C (warm, not too hot or too cold). They also found that women were slightly more sensitive to the pollution levels than men. The results from this research could help Chinese scientists continue to campaign for improvements in PM 2. 5 levels which is good for the Chinese people and the environment.

Quick activity How can we find out what makes our class happiest? Use Mentimeter App to gather suggestions for what makes the class happy. Choose 5 reasons to be happy and ask children to anonymously cast 2 votes. Draw a pictogram to show what makes the class happiest. Resources i. Pads and teacher signed up to ‘Mentimeter’ (free app)

Longer investigation [1] Can you find out more about air and air pollution? Resources plastic bottles of various sizes, ‘rocket’ mice, meter sticks, sticky notes, i. Pads to photograph heights How do we know that air exists when we can’t see it? Try the ‘Rocket Mice’ activity from https: //learningresources. sciencemuseum. org. uk/resources/rocket-mice/ How does the size of the milk bottle effect the height of the rocket mice? Tip: Although air is often invisible it is a substance. Air pushes the rocket mouse upwards.

Longer investigation [2] Can you find out more about air and air pollution? Resources large candle, water trough, food colouring and straight glass jug, Explorify web-site, matches, ceramic tile What is else is in air? What is in air? 1. Show Explorify- fantastic flicker Why does the water rise? Why does the candle go out? https: //explorify. wellcome. ac. uk/en/activities/wh ats-going-on/fantastic-flicker/classroom 2. Demonstrate what happens when you pass a ceramic tile over the orange part of a flame? Has the tile been burnt or can the soot wipe away? Where has it come from? NOTE: The oxygen may not be completely used up when the candle goes out - just at low levels. Tip: To illustrate % oxygen in air, if air was one hand: four fingers would be nitrogen; the thumb oxygen and half the nail of their forefinger other substances. Solids in air like soot can be PM 2. 5 Soot wiped away

What did you find out? What makes your class happy? How could you prove air is a substance even though we can’t see it? What gases are in air? What do you know about PM 2. 5? How could people feel when the PM 2. 5 levels are high?

Questions for further learning Do you think it is important that scientists are studying how air pollution makes us feel? Why/why not? Why might PM 2. 5 make people feel unhappy? Hint: Are there physical and emotional reasons and are they linked? Why is it important that a city feels happy? Hint: Thinking about ‘The Promise’ by Nicola Davies, what might help people feel happier? The government in China monitors social media how do you feel about that? PMI: Consider the Positive, Minus and Interesting points that occur to you. Do you think the government in the UK should do this too?

Maths links Area of learning Activity Understand pictograms Gather data and construct a pictogram as a class. Measuring volume How much air is there in the milk bottles? Predictive graphing Draw a trend line to show what they think the scientists found out. Interpreting data What is the relationship between PM 2. 5 and happiness? Comparing sizes Closely observe sand particles and the electron micrograph image. The sand particle would have to be divided in half over five times to achieve 2. 5μm particles! Children could model with play dough.

Writing links Area of learning Activity Narrative Read the book ‘The Promise’ by Nicola Davies about an unhappy town. Rewrite their own version. Non-chronological report (newspaper) Explain what scientists have done and what they have found out. Instructions Explain how to make and use rocket mice. Argument / persuasive writing Should every country in the world set a limit on the PM 2. 5 levels of their air?

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