Curated OER
Soils, Water and Erosion
Students participate in a hands-on experiment to compare how water and soil erosion affect soil and grass. They determine how slope affects erosion and how terracing affects erosion. They write a paragraph summarizing their data.
Curated OER
Do Human Practices Affect Water Quality?
Students determine if human practices have any noticeable effects on the quality of stream life as measured by the presence of certain macroinvertebrates. They collect, preserve and identify macroinvertibrate samples and quantify the data.
Curated OER
Water Quality Monitoring
Students comprehend the four parameters of water quality. They perform tests for salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH and clarity or turbidity. Students comprehend why scientists and environmental managers monitor water uality and aquatic...
Curated OER
Parched! No Water, No Town
Students discuss the benefits of water conservation. Given a data sheet, they document their water usage over a specified period. Water usage data is graphed and analyzed. Students discuss ways in which they can conserve water.
Curated OER
Are You Thirsty: The Effects of Pollution on Drinking Water
Students discuss the different causes of water pollution. In this ecology instructional activity, students brainstorm ways to purify polluted water. They formulate their conclusion based on the results of the experiments.
Rivanna Regional Stormwater Education Partnership
Does It Soak Right In?
Which materials are best for groundwater runoff, and which are best for percolation? Discuss the water table with several experiments about different types of soil, pollution, precipitation, and filtration. The experiments assign roles...
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Section Two: Why is Biodiversity Important?
Explore soil, genetic traits, natural resources, and pollution in a series of lessons that focus on biodiversity. Kids complete experiments to learn more about the importance of varied genes and organisms in an ecosystem.
Curated OER
Factors affecting infiltration and runoff
Students investigate some of the factors that determine the amount of runoff. They are reminded that infiltration and runoff tend to work oppositely. When conditions are bad for infiltration they usually lead to runoff.
Curated OER
Wacky Water Critters
Young scholars visit a local creek or stream. They collect water samples from the creek and observe and sort the "water critters" they find in the sample, observing smaller organisms under a microscope if necessary. They identify each...
Curated OER
Landfills and the Potential for Groundwater Contamination
Students examine how a sanitary landfill is constructed, how it functions, and how waste and leachate affects the areas around the landfill. After a discussion about landfills and leachates, students construct a Sanitary Landfill Model...
Curated OER
Teaching about Rain Storms, Land Use, and Lake Turbidity
Students investigate the impacts of major rainfall and subsequent runoff on turbidity in lakes. They, in groups, develop a presentation of their research and/or write a paper summarizing their investigation.
Curated OER
Controlling Nonpoint Source Pollution
Learners examine factors affecting water quality. They test water in a local body of water to determine its quality. They collect data and continue monitoring the water monthly. They assess water quality in the home and on the farm.
Curated OER
Mud in the Water
Sixth graders investigate erosion. In this erosion lesson, 6th graders explore how farming changes the environment. Students construct an erosion model and research ways to protect the soil from excess mud generated by farming.
Curated OER
Rainfall Measurement
Students are introduced to rainfall measurement and develop a network of rain gauges. Students measure rainfall, plot rainfall maps and calculate total rainfall volumes during rainstorms.
University of Wisconsin
Designing a Rain Garden
Now it's time for all of the data collected in previous lessons to be applied to the design of a rain garden. This resource can only be used as part of the greater whole, since learners will need to rely on gathered knowledge in order to...
Curated OER
Hydrology: Flood Mitigation
Twelfth graders discuss the different factors that can contribute to major floods. In this ecology lesson, 12th graders analyze collected rainfall data. They complete a scavenger hunt after the lesson.
Curated OER
Groundwater Movement
Students study groundwater movement beneath the surface of the Earth. In this agriculture activity, students experiment with how water moves through rock materials such as sand, gravel, and clay.
Curated OER
Properties of Matter
A collection of ten slides reveals bright graphics and photos. Though the title is "Properties of Matter," the content is incoherent. You will find a couple of slides on chemical reactions, a few on the example of the S.S. Hindenburg...
Curated OER
It'll Go With the Flow...
Students construct a water table elevation contour map and consider the direction and rate of groundwater flow to predict the actual runoff pattern. They discuss their findings and evaluate a hypothetical landfill site based on data...
Curated OER
Nutrients In Chesapeake Bay
Students perform pH and turbidity test to determine water quality. In this environmental science lesson, students analyze NASA database on chlorophyll-a in the bay. They explain how a small river area affects Chesapeake Bay.
Curated OER
Hydrology: Flood Mitigation
Twelfth graders discuss the factors that affect flooding. In this environmental science lesson plan, 12th graders analyze rainfall data about flooding. They complete a scavenger hunt worksheet using the internet.
Curated OER
The Seeds Tell the Story
Students 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
Acid Rain Keeps Falling On My Head
Young scholars measure the pH of local rain water. Students map the location of the collected rain water according to pH levels.
Curated OER
Acid Rain Keeps Falling on My Head
Students examine the pH level of rain water in their local community. They locate each location on a map. They analyze the data and draw conclusions.