How SAMHE works

Credit monkeybusinessimages

For any schools that registered before May 31 2024, this page explains what being involved could look like for your school.

Don't worry if you missed the deadline - Our Teacher Resource Pack is now live! It enables schools without a SAMHE monitor to access many of the educational activities in the Web App, including quizzes, data analysis, videos, and creative activities. Teacher guidance is embedded throughout and we have included example data and graphs for pupils to work with.

Sign up to the SAMHE newsletter via our contact form to keep up with project updates, scientific findings on air quality in schools and inspiring stories of how schools are using their monitor and the Web App, or the Teacher Resource Pack, to learn about their classroom air. You may also like to follow SAMHE on BlueSky or Linkedin to keep up to date with the latest SAMHE developments.

What SAMHE schools get

High spec air quality monitor

If you registered before 31 May 2024, your school will have received a free high spec air quality monitor that measures carbon dioxide (CO2), volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), particulate matter (PM), temperature and relative humidity.

Samhe monitor

SAMHE interactive Web App

Teachers and pupils can access their monitor data through a specially designed interactive Web App, seeing how air quality changes over the course of hours, days or weeks and months.

Samhe Web App

The Web App also offers a range of related activities and experiments, creating opportunities for pupils to be scientists and do hands-on experiments with their monitor. Pupils can have individual accounts, enabling them to explore their monitor data for themselves, do activities individually and track their own achievements. For more information see the FAQ 'How can I set up pupil accounts?' or watch the video 'How to set up pupil accounts'.

The Web App includes activities:

  • For a range of learning aims, group types and session durations (subject lessons, extension activities, extracurricular clubs, careers activities, extended projects, 5 minute tasks…)
  • For different age groups (key stages 1-4 plus sixth form)
  • Developing a range of skills, including scientific enquiry, data logging and data handling, understanding graphs and charts, reasoning with evidence and persuasive writing
  • With clear curriculum links for a range of subjects including, but not limited to, Science, Maths and PSHE. Lesson plans, videos and other resources will also be provided
  • With career links, including information about the SAMHE project team members and their career pathways
  • Using art and design skills

Samhe web app activity card
Samhe web app data visualisation

More activities will be added to the Web App during the course of the SAMHE project. For an introduction to the SAMHE Web App, watch the short Web App Walkthrough and Web App Activities videos below.

How it works

Infographic showing what being a Sammy school involves, with the following four steps. You receive and set up your Sammy monitor. Sammy scientists set up activities on the Sammy Web App. Pupils complete fun activities, learning about air quality and inputting important contextual data. The data goes to Sammy scientists so they can analyse and report on air quality in UK classrooms.

The chance to be part of something bigger!

Taking part in SAMHE gives pupils the opportunity to contribute to genuine scientific research, working together with scientists and thousands of other school children towards a cleaner, healthier school environment. It also looks great on a personal statement!

sixthformers around computer