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Designed for 9th - 12th grade
$6 per student
This Meaningful Watershed Education Field Experience (part of your MWEE) focuses on measuring water quality indicators using technology. Environmental scientists use hand-held colorimeters to explore the effects that temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, and other indicators have on water quality. Students evaluate results and communicate their water quality assessment with others. Assessments can be shared with your local community to exercise civic responsibility (another part of the MWEE). This program is for motivated students and is designed to take three hours with groups of no more than 15.
Target SOLs for the field investigation.
Science (2018): ES.1, ES.8, Bio.1, Bio.2, CH.1
During your field investigations for our Water Quality Technology students will measure water quality parameters via chemistry and by investigating bioindicators. Up to 8 students will use LaMotte Colorimeters to test water chemistry. Water chemistry gives a snapshot view of water quality: how healthy is the water at this moment in time? While those students explore chemistry, the rest of the class will find, identify, and tally species of aquatic macro-organisms with varying pollution tolerances. They will then use those data to determine water quality over a longer time (organisms require time within their healthy parameters to develop and grow). The two groups then swap activities, and at the end compare data and synthesize their findings.
Field investigations are more meaningful to students when they are integrated into their curriculum. The data collected can be used for analysis, creating tables and graphs, and comparing to regional trends. We also recommend several texts and associated activities to enrich your students' experience.
A Long Walk to Water Non-Fiction
Author: Linda Sue Park
Grade: 6-8 Lexile: 720L
Suggested Activities:
I Am the Rain Fiction
Author and Illustrator: John Paterson
Grade: PK-3 Lexile: AD470L
Suggested Activities:
One Well: The Story of Water on Earth Non-Fiction
Author: Rochelle Strauss Illustrator: Rosemary Woods
Grade: 3-7
Suggested Activities:
STEAM Team Adventure #4 - Water Ninjas and the Mystery of the Potomac Fiction
Author and Illustrator: Fairfax Water
Grade: 5-9
Suggested Activities:
The Water Princess Fiction
Author: Susan Verde and Georgie Badie Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds
Grade: K-3 Lexile: 480L
Suggested Activities: