1.Unit: Wind/ Water
2.Lesson: Water Pollution
3.Standards:Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, Environmental Quality
4.Instructional Objectives: By the end of this lesson the students will understand what
water pollution is, where it comes from and locate the source for contamination of the
Rachville Stream.
5.Instructional Strategies: Collaborative Learning, Outlining, SQ3R
6.Materials: Water samples, overhead, phosphate and nitrate testing kit.
7.Introduction: Review outline:
STREAM CONTAMINATION: Why are all the fish dying?
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Water is an essential resource for all life on Earth.
a. Composes 60-70% of the cells in living organisms
b. Makes up 2/3 of the Earth.
Agricultural and industrial applications:
a. Transportation
b. Drinking
c. Coolant for power plants
What’s the problem with all this use?
a. Contamination
b. Pollution: There is an increasing need to identify:
i. The quality of water
ii. The origins of pollution
Two main types of water pollution
a. Point Specific=contamination from a specific location.
i. Example: Factory that has a chemical discharge pipe that leads
directly to a water source.
ii. Can be identified and controlled easily
b. Nonpoint Specific=does not come from a specific location
i. Example: runoff
ii. Snowmelt or rain water will run over an area of land and end up in
a water source ending in our lakes and streams…The Basin!
Types of Pollutants
a. Nitrates
i. Accumulate from decaying vegetation, the atmosphere, fertilizers,
excrement and sewage
ii. Unpolluted water normally has 4 parts per million (ppm)
iii. 10ppm= not fit to drink…algae will foul the water causing
eutrophication!
b. Phosphates
i. Accumulate from domestic waste water (human, animal and plant),
fertilizers and wastewater from industries.
VI.
ii. Phosphates from laundry detergent can overgrow algae
iii. Phosphates are often added to water t control water “hardness”
iv. Phosphate levels of more than 0.03ppm is hazardous.
Experiment overview:
a. A massive fish kill has occurred in the Racville stream in Raymond
Township. Your job, as the forensic scientist is to determine what and who
is responsible for the pollution.
8.Teaching Procedure: Review outline and students perform tests in small
groups
Small groups will test for the pollutants mentioned in the direct instruction,
Each student’s report will have:
Problem, Background Information, Hypothesis, Procedure, all done
prior to the experiment
Observations: Data Charts filled in during the experiment
Conclusion: Identify the company responsible for the pollution
9.Closure: Students are to answer questions and report their results concluding
who is responsible for the pollution.
10.Evaluation of Learning: Quiz. Lab Report
11.Accommodations: Lined paper with lesson outline may need to be provided in order
for better structure of the notes. Explanation and definitions of certain terms should be
reviewed to ensure understanding.
12.Enhancement/ Enrichment Activity: Water samples will be taken from the (1) Basin
Area in order to test the Mingo Creek and (2) Indoor water samples from water fountains,
sinks, etc. Will be included in Lab Report.