May Media Group
Treatment Plants
Young scientists explore nature's water treatment plants in this simple science demonstration. By placing a stalk of celery in a cup of water mixed with food coloring, children are able to observe how plants absorb nutrients and...
NOAA
Toxic! Or Is It?
Super scientists tests the toxicity of water using radish seed bioassays. Over the course of five days, scholars observe the germination process of several radish seeds, looking closely at their roots to determine the level of toxins...
National Institute of Open Schooling
Heavy Metal Contamination
An informative lesson focuses on heavy metal contamination of environments. Classes read about, discuss, and answer questions pertaining to sources of heavy metals in the environment. To finish the 35th installment of 36, individuals...
Curated OER
Science in the Courtroom: The Woburn Toxic Trial
Students role-play expert witnesses in a mock trial dealing with contamination of groundwater. They prepare for the role-play by studying the movement of groundwater and the transport of contaminants through computations, map exercises...
Curated OER
Contaminated Drinking Water
Students predict, experiment, and draw conclusions about the safety of drinking water. In this ecology lesson, students participate in an experiment to determine if they can taste or see contamination in drinking water. Data is collected...
Curated OER
Three is a Toxic Number
Future public health advocates read a case study of a combination of water pollutants that may be linked to autism. The class is split into three groups, one to research each of the suspected chemicals. The look at how each one affects...
Curated OER
Subsurface Contamination of Groundwater
High schoolers watch a demonstration with a balloon filled with water being buried in a milk container that has been cut length wise and filled with sand. Students are told that there is an underground storage tank filled with a...
Curated OER
Contaminated Drinking Water
Students investigate drinking water. In this water lesson, students discover if the water we drink is safe by participating in an experiment. Students use water and vinegar to observe how drinking water can be contaminated.
Beyond Benign
SLS Toxicology Test
Ingredients in your shampoo are toxic enough to kill plants. The 16th installment of the series of 24 tests the toxicity level of various concentrations of SLS, a chemical found in nearly all shampoo. Learners prepare percent solutions...
Curated OER
Science: Testing Water for Toxicity
Students investigate the potential toxicity of water samples using California blackworms to test water quality. They observe the worms' behaviors in different water samples and determine which sample has the highest toxicity. At the...
Curated OER
Science: Microcosms in the Biosphere
In a series of lessons, examine the impact on humans by microcosms in the biosphere. Among the plans structured for young scholars with different abilities and learning styles, are activities describing the symbiotic relationship,...
Curated OER
Lead and Mercury: Comparing Two Environmental Evils
High schoolers in chemistry or health courses look at the material safety data sheet (MSDS) and periodic table of elements to gather information about mercury and lead, two toxic materials that have been found in food products. They read...
Curated OER
Contaminated Drinking Water
Students explore water and determine whether or not it is safe to drink. In this water exploration lesson, students are split into groups, to acts as the polluter, taster, and recorder. Students explore by placing different amounts of...
Curated OER
Get to the Point!
High schoolers write out sources of pollution and identify contaminants are most likely found in urban runoff. In this pollution lesson students compare toxicity tests and chemical analysis of potential contaminants.
Curated OER
The Seeds Tell the Story
Young scholars explore sources of pollution runoff and actions that can be taken to reduce runoff. In this pollution lesson students complete a worksheet and see why bio-essays may provide a more realistic picture of toxicity.
Curated OER
Lead Contamination In Our Environment
Students identify the sources of lead in their local community and how to prevent further contamination. As a class, they watch a video about the effects of lead on the body and use the internet to discover any new technology that can...
Curated OER
Contaminated Drinking Water
Learners see if they can tell if our water is safe to drink by looking at it and tasting it. They perform an experiment using salt and vinegar to see when they can tell water has been contaminated.
Curated OER
Contaminated Drinking Water
Students discover whether their senses can detect unsafe drinking water. In the water activity lesson, students follow procedures to determine whether their bodies can detect contaminated water.
Curated OER
Science: Lead Shot and Waterfowl
Students examine data to investigate the impact of lead shot pellets on waterfowl populations. They graph their findings and discover how lead in ingested by birds and poisons them. As an extension, students research legislation and...
Curated OER
The Numbers Game
Students examine how to calculate the part-per-million and part-per-billion units used to measure contaminant concentrations in the environment. They calculate ratios, take a quiz, analyze a sample chemical spill, and determine if...
Curated OER
Wildlife Study Comparison
Students compare/contrast two studies that examine the effects of environmental contaminants on animals. They read an article, identify the components of a research study, summarize the article, and complete a matrix.
Curated OER
Toxicology and Living Systems
Students investigate how toxic chemicals affect biological systems. They determine the toxic dose of a chemical that inhibits seed germination in a Brassica rapa. They investigate the effect of environmental tobacco smoke on human lung...
Curated OER
Mothers' Milk-Unleaded, Please
Lead toxicity is a hot topic these days, especially when it was a common component in household paint for many years. In Taiwan, there was concern that babies were being exposed to toxic levels of lead through breast milk. A study was...
Bridge
Mercury - Mercury is Rising
Hold a discussion in your class about the increase in mercury being found in fish that are caught commercially as food for humans. Given a worksheet, learners then calculate how much fish a person can safely eat each month to remain...