What's in that H2O? (Quality)

The What's in that H2O? (Quality) station addresses water quality and its importance for a healthy watershed. Students predict the outcome and then test the creek's chemical properties to verify their conjectures.

NGSS: HS-LS2-6, HS-LS2-7, HS-LS4-6, HS-LS4-5, HS-ESS2-5, HS-ESS3-1WA SCIENCE Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs): 1.1, 1.2, 1.3,2.1, 2. 3.1

Objectives

Students will be able to:

Describe the hydrologic cycle
List the effects of turbidity, pH, temperature, stream dynamics and dissolved oxygen (DO) on the aquatic ecosystem
Test the health of the local stream
Identify human activities and natural phenomena that impact water quality

Concepts

The connection of water chemistry to stream health
Human actions that influence clean water
Point and non-point source pollution
Ecology

Teachers

Classroom Materials

Classroom Pre-work Activities:

Let That Water Breathe and Chill (PDF)- Students identify properties of dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature, understand the factors that can change a waterway's DO and temperature, and apply their knowledge by testing the DO and temperature of a local stream to determine its health.
The pH7 Scale: Life's Good Note (PDF)- Students understand the pH scale by testing the pH of common products, and find connections between pH and wildlife.
It's a Dirty Water Thing (PDF)- Students identify potential sources of increased turbidity and predict results of an experiment on sediment levels of a nearby creek.

Field Day Materials

What's in that H2O? Water Quality Student Worksheet (PDF)

Activity Leaders

Training Video above - A video guide on how to successfully facilitate this station.
What's in that H20? (Quality) Equipment and Procedure Guide (PDF)- An equipment checklist and procedure guidelines for this station.
What's in that H20? (Quality) Station Script (PDF) - A suggested script for guiding students through this station in the field.

"Rivers and rocks and trees have always been talking to us, but we've forgotten how to listen."- Michael Roads