Adapted from the Original lesson by
Apurva Dave from Middleton High School, apurva.dave@sdhc.k12.fl.us
Role: Chemist
Scenario: The town that you live in is facing a major water pollution catastrophe! Your
drinking water supply has recently become contaminated. Your neighbors have complained that
the water flowing out of their taps is cloudy, stinky, and tastes bad. Life in your town has
become very difficult, and the mayor has called a mandatory town meeting to discuss the exact
nature of the contamination.
Four committees have been created from the community to address different aspects of this
problem. All four committees will present their findings at the town meeting on
__________________. Your project will be assessed and counted as a 100 point grade. Your
role, responsibility and rubric are shown below. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions.
Role: Chemist
Responsibility: You are to research and discuss the possible tests needed to characterize
the severity of the contamination. You should address methods for testing pH, turbidity, and
hardness (EDTA titration).
You may choose any format you wish to present this information as long as it addresses the
components on this rubric. You may choose to make a PowerPoint presentation, create a web
page, compose a detailed lab manual or any other idea that is approved by the Mayor, (the
teacher). This project is an individual report – you will not be working as a group or with a
partner. On __________________, when you turn in your project, please attach this rubric to a
hard copy of your project. Even if you make a PowerPoint presentation, please turn in the
diskette, a printed copy and the rubric.
Component
Description of Component
Background
Information
Methodology
Define pH, turbidity and hardness.
Analysis
Format,
Grammar, Style
References
Total
BONUS
Discuss the following methods in terms of procedure
and materials required. Be sure to include a
diagram of the apparatus.
1. pH
2. Turbidity
3. Hardness
Discuss consequences/ results of abnormally high or
low values for pH, turbidity, and hardness.
Follow formatting guidelines, use correct grammar,
and choose an appropriate style for your report.
MLA-style bibliography of all works cited. Include
parenthetical references in your text.
If you present your work…
Points
Possible
15
15
15
15
20
10
10
100
10
Points
Earned
Elaborate on the 10 bonus points; does this mean extra points for an oral presentation in addition
to just turning in the assignment?
Role: Biologist
Scenario: The town that you live in is facing a major water pollution catastrophe! Your
drinking water supply has recently become contaminated. Your neighbors have complained that
the water flowing out of their taps is cloudy, stinky, and tastes bad. Life in your town has
become very difficult, and the mayor has called a mandatory town meeting to discuss the exact
nature of the contamination.
Four committees have been created from the community to address different aspects of this
problem. All four committees will present their findings at the town meeting on
__________________. Your project will be assessed and counted as a 100 point grade. Your
role, responsibility and rubric are shown below. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions.
Role: Biologist
Responsibility: You are to research and discuss the possible tests needed to characterize
the severity of the contamination. You should address methods for testing total dissolved solids
(TDS), coli form, and turbidity (related to plant growth).
You may choose any format you wish to present this information as long as it addresses the
components on this rubric. You may choose to make a PowerPoint presentation, create a web
page, compose a detailed lab manual or any other idea that is approved by the Mayor, (the
teacher). This project is an individual report – you will not be working as a group or with a
partner. On __________________, when you turn in your project, please attach this rubric to a
hard copy of your project. Even if you make a PowerPoint presentation, please turn in the
diskette, a printed copy and the rubric.
Component
Description of Component
Background
Information
Methodology
Define TDS, coliform, and turbidity (related to plant
growth)
Discuss the following methods in terms of procedure
and materials required. Be sure to include a
diagram of the apparatus.
1. TDS
2. Coliform
3. Turbidity
Discuss consequences/ results of abnormally high or
low values for TDS, coliform, and turbidity (related
to plant growth).
Follow formatting guidelines, use correct grammar,
and choose an appropriate style for your report.
MLA-style bibliography of all works cited. Include
Analysis
Format,
Grammar, Style
References
Points
Possible
15
15
15
15
20
10
10
Points
Earned
parenthetical references in your text.
Total
BONUS
If you present your work…
100
10
Role: Policy Maker
Period: ________________________
Scenario: The town that you live in is facing a major water pollution catastrophe! Your
drinking water supply has recently become contaminated. Your neighbors have complained that
the water flowing out of their taps is cloudy, stinky, and tastes bad. Life in your town has
become very difficult, and the mayor has called a mandatory town meeting to discuss the exact
nature of the contamination.
Four committees have been created from the community to address different aspects of this
problem. All four committees will present their findings at the town meeting on
__________________. Your project will be assessed and counted as a 100 point grade. Your
role, responsibility and rubric are shown below. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions.
Role: Policy Maker
Responsibility: You are to research the Clean Water Act and assess Chemical Drinking
Water Standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
You may choose any format you wish to present this information as long as it addresses the
components on this rubric. You may choose to make a PowerPoint presentation, create a web
page, compose a detailed lab manual or any other idea that is approved by the Mayor, (the
teacher). This project is an individual report – you will not be working as a group or with a
partner. On __________________, when you turn in your project, please attach this rubric to a
hard copy of your project. Even if you make a PowerPoint presentation, please turn in the
diskette, a printed copy and the rubric.
Component
Description of Component
Background
Information
Define the Clean Water Act and Chemical Drinking
Water Standards established by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
 Discuss how minimum standards for
contaminant levels in drinking water are
determined.
 Explain NPDES, TMDL, MCL, NOAEL, LOAEL
 Discuss how Industrial, Commercial, and
Residential users are responsible for treating
their waste water.
 Discuss how these standards are enforced.
Methodology
Format,
Grammar, Style
References
Total
BONUS
Follow formatting guidelines, use correct grammar,
and choose an appropriate style for your report.
MLA-style bibliography of all works cited. Include
parenthetical references in your text.
If you present your work…
Points
Possible
20
15
15
15
15
10
10
100
10
Points
Earned
Role: Water/Wastewater Treatment Engineers
Period: ________________________
Scenario: The town that you live in is facing a major water pollution catastrophe! Your
drinking water supply has recently become contaminated. Your neighbors have complained that
the water flowing out of their taps is cloudy, stinky, and tastes bad. Life in your town has
become very difficult, and the mayor has called a mandatory town meeting to discuss the exact
nature of the contamination.
Four committees have been created from the community to address different aspects of this
problem. All four committees will present their findings at the town meeting on
__________________. Your project will be assessed and counted as a 100 point grade. Your
role, responsibility and rubric are shown below. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions.
Role: Water/Wastewater Treatment Engineers
Responsibility: You are to research the process of wastewater treatment. Create a process
flow diagram outlining all the steps in wastewater treatment. Be sure to include the purpose of
each step and address the disposal of the byproducts.
You may choose any format you wish to present this information as long as it addresses the
components on this rubric. You may choose to make a PowerPoint presentation, create a web
page, compose a detailed lab manual or any other idea that is approved by the Mayor, (the
teacher). This project is an individual report – you will not be working as a group or with a
partner. On __________________, when you turn in your project, please attach this rubric to a
hard copy of your project. Even if you make a PowerPoint presentation, please turn in the
diskette, a printed copy and the rubric.
Component
Description of Component
Background
Information
Define waste water and drinking water. Discuss
differences between surface and ground water
supplies.
 Create a flow chart that diagrams all the steps
in waste water treatment. Include complete
descriptions of each step & explain what
happens to the products.
 Create a flow chart that diagrams all the steps
in drinking water treatment.
Process Flow
Diagram
Format,
Grammar, Style
References
Total
BONUS
Follow formatting guidelines, use correct grammar,
and choose an appropriate style for your report.
MLA-style bibliography of all works cited. Include
parenthetical references in your text.
If you present your work…
Points
Possible
20
30
30
10
10
100
10
Points
Earned