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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Three is a Toxic Number

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Contamination Challenge

For Teachers 8th - Higher Ed
Students play a game to analyze further the effects of water contamination. In this environmental concerns lesson, students play an online game about water contamination and may visit the additional links to further their studies on the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Endocrine Disruptors in Our Drinking Water: Should We Be Concerned?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars investigate the different hormone contaminants in the water supply. In this math lesson, students analyze data tables and graphs. They demonstrate exponential growth and decay using frog populations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When You Were My Age, What Was This Place Like?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students discover how land use in their community has changed. In this community and ecology lesson, students scan old newspapers to find articles about the development of community land. Students discuss and predict how land use has...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

9-12: The Movie, "A Civil Action," as a Legal/Environmental Science Case Study

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze information to determine how they can help a community that has been affected by water contamination.  In this environmental science lesson, students watch portions of the movie "A Civil Action" and discuss specific...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Drinking Water

For Students 8th - 10th
In this drinking water activity, students complete a crossword puzzle given 23 clues about drinking water purification, water content, contaminants, and softeners.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

G is for Groundwater

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this groundwater worksheet, students read the sentences 'Groundwater is beneath the soil,' and 'G is for Groundwater.' Students may color the picture of the groundwater image.
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Handout
Encyclopedia of Earth

Encyclopedia of Earth: Physics & Chemistry: Nitrate

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the chemistry of nitrate, the negative agricultural effects of too much nitrate in soil and in water sources, its toxicity to plants and livestock, and the impact on human health.
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Unit Plan
Other

Museum of Health Care: Death in a Glass

For Students 9th - 10th
Students can learn all about water pathogens in this online exhibit. They'll explore what kinds of micro-organisms infect water, how a water supply can get contaminated, how it is protected, and how officials investigate cases of...
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Website
Other

Clean Ocean Action

For Students 9th - 10th
This site defines and describes causes of ocean pollution. Easily navigated links to education, research, and current issues on pollution.
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Website
NOAA

Noaa: National Ocean Service Education: Nonpoint Source Pollution

For Students 9th - 10th
Illustrated tutorial explains nonpoint source pollution and its role in the health of the environment. Students learn about different sources of pollution and how these pollutants contaminate the land, air, and water. Click on the links...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs News Hour Extra: Tracking the Health Effects of Natural Disasters

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students examine the impact of natural disasters, such as flooding, on public health, and study diseases and other secondary conditions associated with stagnant water. Lesson includes resources for students to research epidemics and...
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Website
Other

Nova Scotia Environment: Iron Bacteria and Sulphur Bacteria [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Information page on iron bacteria and sulfur bacteria, both of which can affect the quality of drinking water from a well. Includes guidance on how to recognize their presence, what to do if there is a problem, and how to maintain water...
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Website
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Water on Tap: What You Need to Know

For Students 9th - 10th
Downloadable booklets with basic information about the U.S. water supply, e.g., where our drinking water comes from.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: What's Gotten Into You?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this activity, students use models to investigate the process and consequences of water contamination on the land, groundwater, and plants. This is a good introduction to building water filters found in the associated activity, The...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The Dirty Water Project

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this activity, students investigate different methods (aeration and filtering) for removing pollutants from water. They will design and build their own water filters.
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Website
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Polluted Runoff: Nonpoint Source (Nps) Pollution

For Students 9th - 10th
EPA site offers answers to what nonpoint source pollution is as well as provides links and information as to what concerned citizens can do about it.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Ocean Planet: Water Pollution Toxic Materials

For Students 9th - 10th
This site, from an archived Smithsonian exhibit, describes and illustrates the effects of toxic materials on wildlife in bodies of water.
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Lesson Plan
University of Arizona

University of Arizona: Pulse: Cultures and Cycles: Arsenic and Human Health

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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.
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Website
Other

Uk Rivers Network: Finding Out About Water Pollution

For Students 9th - 10th
Excellent site covers all types of water pollution. Hundreds of links including books, articles, organizations, specific topics.
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Primary
University at Buffalo

Love Canal Collections: Love Canal Chronologies

For Students 9th - 10th
Find chronologies from three different sources of Love Canal and its chemical contamination. Read about how the investigation of this environmental disaster progressed over the years.
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Article
Aetna Intelihealth

Aetna: Inteli Health: Hepatitis A

For Students 9th - 10th
Intelihealth provides facts about hepatitis A and information about its symptoms, prevention, and treatment.
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Activity
University of Missouri

Microbes in Action: Classroom Activities: Water Quality Testing [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this experiment, students will test the quality of a water sample by observing the number of coliform bacteria. Coliform bacteria are found in human intestines and a large amount can indicate water contamination. Lesson plan gives a...
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Website
Other

Zero Waste America: Landfills

For Students 9th - 10th
Lists landfill issues such as leakage, water contamination, air emissions, and hazardous waste dumping. Gives extensive documentation site links.