Track the AQI in Creative Ways!

Welcome to the 2025 Spare The Air season! As we breeze into another year of raising awareness about air pollution, I’m happy to share some fun and creative ways to track the daily Air Quality Index (AQI). For those of you in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yolo, and Solano counties, it’s a great time to get involved and learn more about how we can all contribute to cleaner air.

What is AQI, Anyway?
The Air Quality Index (AQI) tells us how ‘good’ or ‘bad’ our air quality is – a lower number means we’re breathing better air. Start by learning All About Air Pollution on my website, or by checking out my previous blogs.

Let’s Make It Fun!
Tracking the daily AQI doesn’t have to be boring! Here are a few engaging ideas to help you track  air quality throughout the Spare The Air season, which runs from May 1 through October 31.

Keep a Daily AQI Journal and Practice Your Math!
There is a simple yet effective way to monitor the AQI. Each day, write down the AQI number in a journal. At the end of the week or month, ask a parent or guardian to help you calculate the average AQI. This will give you a better understanding of how air quality changes over time. For example, if your final number is between 0 – 50, that indicates that the average air quality was ‘Good’ during that time!

AQI Candy Jar
Did you know that certain fruit-flavored candies have colors that match the AQI chart? Grab a small jar and find some fruit-flavored candies that match the colors of the AQI chart. Each day, put a candy in the jar that matches the AQI color. Once the jar is full, share the sweets with your friends and family while talking about what you learned about air quality!

Create an AQI Art Display
If you like art, why not make a colorful poster or canvas? Start by dividing your artwork into sections for each day you track the AQI. Use crayons, colored pencils, markers, or paints to fill in the sections with corresponding colors from the AQI chart. At the end of the season, you’ll have a vibrant display that reflects the air quality over time!

Knit or Crochet an AQI Blanket
For those talented with yarn, consider knitting or crocheting a blanket or scarf using colors that represent the AQI chart. Add a new section each day to your project. Not only will you create a cozy item for the cooler months, but you’ll also have a unique piece that tells the story of air quality throughout the season.

Choose one of these ideas or come up with your own, but most importantly, have fun while tracking the AQI. Educating ourselves about air pollution is important and can be done in many exciting and interactive ways.

Remember to check the daily AQI forecast—it’s posted on Facebook and X.

For more information about air pollution, health impacts, and how you can help, be sure to explore my Scooter’s World website.

Air pollution affects everyone, and everyone can do their part to make a difference.

Until next time,

Scooter