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Eutrophication
Students observe the effects of eutrophication and determine why it is harmful to aquatic ecosystems. They create mason jar ecosystems to observe the growth of algae in pond water. In addition, they observe the effect of introducing...
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Week 3: Pollution Source and Effects
Lab groups set up an experiment to observe what happens over time in collected pond water when fertilizer, representing pollution, is added. This website does not include student lab sheets, but background information, materials, and...
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Eutrophication Experiments
Observe two different water samples and write down observations. Write a paragraph which predicts the relative amounts of nutrients, nitrates, and phosphates in the water samples. Compare water samples under a microscope.
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Pea Soup Ponds
Students perform an experiment where they learn how water can be polluted by algal bloom. They grow algae with different concentrations of fertilizers or nutrients and analyze their results.
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Diurnal Cycling Experiments
High schoolers carry out an experiment to monitor diurnal fluctuations in dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH, and water temperature. They determine the CO2 and pH of the samples (and optionally, dissolved oxygen). Students complete...
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Water Filtration
As an example of nature's water filtering system, young ecologists conduct an experiment in the lab. They construct a funnel out of a plastic bottle, fill it with specified layers of materials that simulate layers of soil, then run muddy...
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Ions in the Environment
Students explain the importance of the five main biogeochemical cycles. In this chemistry lesson plan, students discuss how ions are transported in the environment. They design an experiment to collect data on eutrophication.
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Determination of Phosphates
Students engage in a laboratory lesson in order to increase understanding of the impact of phosphates at the chemical and ecological levels. The lab exercise is completed with the goal of getting them to predict the outcomes and future...
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Water Density Boundaries
Young scholars create observable layers in water that represent a separation based upon density differences. They model density boundaries using differences in temperature and salinity. They, in groups, perform a meaningful experiment...
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Ecology and the Conservation of Natural Resources
Students examine the components of ecosystems. They compare and contrast an ecosystem to an aquatic ecosystem. They examine a local ecosystem and discuss its components.