by Naomi White, Science Teacher, Jefferson High School, LAUSD
LESSSON SHEET [ Student Handout ]
Time Frame: one period
Concept:
As humans continue to alter the environment, poor water quality isaffecting aquatic life. It is destroying biodiversity and in the worstscenarios, sterilizing whole bodies of water. Hazardous waste dumping isaffecting our drinking water and health. Water treatment can can eliminatesome tap water pollutants such as sediments and bacteria, but heavy metalsand other carcinogenic substances are more difficult to remove.
Objective:Students will graph types of water pollutants from a simulated water sample.
Materials:
- colored dots (make using a hole punch)
- test tubes
- graph paper
- glue
- pollutant sheet
- student work sheets
Preparation:Procedure:
- Punch out paper dots (cut squares for younger children) from 10different colors of paper.
- Put 1/4 teaspoon of the mixed dots into test tubes.
- Discuss the types of water pollution. Pass out the pollutant sheets. Askquestions to divide types of pollutants into the four categories ofenvironmental, thermal, chemical and organic.
- Give each student glue, graph paper and a test tube of dots.
- Instruct students to bar graph their simulated water sample.
- On the back of each graph, student will explain which pollutants werethe worst and possible causes. Students should draw a map showing thesample site and location of possible polluters.
Los Angeles River Connection is a part of LAEP Learning Exchange.