Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Heavy Metals and Aquatic Environments
You might know that lead can be toxic, and that you can get lead poisoning from eating or inhaling old paint dust. Lead is called a heavy metal, and there are other sources of heavy metals that can be toxic, too. Silver, copper, mercury,...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Using Daphnia to Monitor Water Toxicity
In a bioassay, a living organism serves as a detector for toxins-the same way canaries were used in coal mines to detect invisible toxic gases. In this project, water fleas (Daphnia magna), a freshwater crustacean, are used in a bioassay...
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: Can Nutrients in Water Cause Harm?
Many different kinds of organisms live in water. Excess nutrients can cause over-abundant growth of some organisms living in water and non-point source pollution is a major threat to water supplies in the United States. In this lesson...
Other
Enviro Watch
Watchdog organization dedicated to preserving the environment through education, research, and legislation.
Other
Clean Ocean Action
This site defines and describes causes of ocean pollution. Easily navigated links to education, research, and current issues on pollution.
US Geological Survey
Usgs: National Water Quality Assessment Program
Use this website to find out about water quality issues anywhere in the U.S.A. where water studies have been conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey.
US Geological Survey
Usgs: Water Science for Schools Effects of Urbanization
This U.S. Geological Survey website offers a short article then lists topics that are linked to brief articles that describe that particular topic's effect on water quality in urban areas. Click Home to access the site in Spanish.
Other
Save Our Seas Organization: Home Page
Home page of the Save Our Seas Organization which seeks to protect all the oceans of the world.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Dirty Water Project
In this activity, students investigate different methods (aeration and filtering) for removing pollutants from water. They will design and build their own water filters.
US Environmental Protection Agency
Epa: Report Spills and Environmental Violations
Concerned about an environmental situation within the community but don't know where to go for answers? Find out here!
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: Ocean Planet: Water Pollution Toxic Materials
This site, from an archived Smithsonian exhibit, describes and illustrates the effects of toxic materials on wildlife in bodies of water.
University of Arizona
University of Arizona: Pulse: Cultures and Cycles: Arsenic and Human Health
Interdisciplinary unit about the risk of exposure to arsenic in public drinking water. Math, language arts, social studies, and science are incorporated into the lessons.
Other
Uk Rivers Network: Finding Out About Water Pollution
Excellent site covers all types of water pollution. Hundreds of links including books, articles, organizations, specific topics.
Other
Friends of the Earth
Visit the home page of Friends of the Earth, an organization dedicated to protecting the world. Easily navigated links to specific topics.
Other
Safe Water Science: Lesson Downloads
A collection of downloadable, ready-to-use lessons and student worksheets aimed to raise awareness of the need for safe drinking water. Lessons are investigative in nature and utilize inexpensive materials that can be purchased at most...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Captain Charles Moore on the Seas of Plastic
Capt. Charles Moore discusses the growing problem of plastic trash in our seas and oceans and what the solutions might be. [7:24]
US Environmental Protection Agency
Epa: Secret of Bog Creek
This site has a user guided story about a bog that has been a secret dumping ground for waste.
Other
Water Pollution
Read about the different types of water pollution and the harm it can cause. Learn about oil spills how they are cleaned up, and how you can help prevent water pollution. Additional links point to other topics relevant to the study of...
US Geological Survey
Usgs: Effects of Human Activities
This site reviews the effects of agricultural development, urban and industrial development, drainage of the land surface, modifications to river valleys, and modifications to the atmosphere have on ground water and surface water.
National Institutes of Health
Niehs: Kids' Pages: Water, the Never Ending Story
Online children's story that teaches about the importance of keeping water clean. Click on "next" at the bottom of the story to discover why having pure water affects the way we live and learn.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: What Happened to the Water? Designing Ways to Get and Clean
In this scenario-based activity, students design ways to either clean a water source or find a new water source, depending on given hypothetical family scenarios. They act as engineers to draw and write about what they could do to...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Pea Soup Ponds
In this activity, students will learn how water can be polluted by algal blooms. They will grow algae with different concentrations of fertilizer or nutrients and analyze their results as environmental engineers working to protect a...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: How Clean Is That Water?
This lesson plan helps middle schoolers understand the factors that affect water quality and the conditions that allow for different animals and plants to survive. Students will look at the effects of water quality on various...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Splish, Splash, I Was Takin' a Bath!
In this lesson, learners will explore the causes of water pollution and its effects on the environment through the use of models and scientific investigation. In the accompanying activities, they will investigate filtration and aeration...