Acid rain Lesson Plans

Students understand the dynamics of acid rain and its impact on the living and non-living environment. They hypothesize how acid rain affects water pH levels in two lake systems with differing watershed features.

Students investigate acid rain. For this environmental lesson, students participate in an experiment using litmus paper and various liquids and then test the acidity of the liquids. Students identify reasons why acid is harmful to the environment.

Seventh graders are able to demonstrate the harmful effects of an acidic solution. They become aware of the harmful effects of acid rain. Students make predictions before they began the experiment. If vingegar contains acid, then how are some items placed in vinegar change? If these items were placed in water, would they change in the same ways as in vinegar?

Students investigate the effects of acid rain on seed germination. For this acid rain lesson plan, students design an experiment to study the effects of sulfuric acid on seeds. Students observe their control seeds and acid treated seeds to compare germination. They draw conclusions based on their results.

Students explain why rain forests have great biodiversity, and list each layer of a rain forest and tell an organism that lives in each. They identify the cause of acid rain and its affect on a rain forest. Students hypothesize the effects of water and sulfuric acid on a leaf and identify the steps of the scientific method.

Students conduct a simple experiment to model and explore the harmful effects of acid rain (vinegar) on living (green leaf and eggshell) and non-living (paper clip) objects. They observe and describe some of the harmful effects of acid rain on living and non-living items, explain why engineers are concerned about acid rain and discuss how engineers are working to prevent pollution and acid rain.

Students investigate the pH of rain water.  For this Earth Science lesson, students collect rain water from their area and explore the pH when lime stone is added.  Students use the data collected to conjecture as to the effect of acid rain on buildings and monuments. 

Sudents are shown how to create their own acid rain. They are shown one acid-rain sumulation was to burn a small sample of sulfur in a gas jar which contains a small amount of water. Students cover the jar and shake. They test the water with chemical indicators. They answer the question:Where does the sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere come from? Is the burning of sulfur used commercially to prepare acides from sulfur?

Students develop an environmental case study for presentation and understand how a case study is used as an analysis tool. The goal of this activity is to show students how techniques of persuasion (including background, supporting evidence, storytelling and the call to action) are used to develop an argument for or against a topic. The example students will be looking at is the developing acid rain problem in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State.

Acid rain, and how it affects the environment, is the focus of this Earth science lesson. During the study, learners evaluate measures to reduce acid rain, and design an investigation to demonstrate the conection between a hypothesis and an experimental design.