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Lesson Plan
May Media Group

Treatment Plants

For Teachers 1st - 6th Standards
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...
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Activity
US Environmental Protection Agency

Non-Point Source Pollution

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Investigate the different types of pollution that storm drain runoff carries into oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams with this class demonstration. Using an aquarium and an assortment of everyday items that contaminants like motor oil,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where's the Point?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine runoff for the causes, the impact, and the solution.  In this investigative lesson students construct a three dimensional model of a watershed and provide information of contaminated runoff to their audience. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Storm Drain Dumping

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students conduct an experiment to show how water gets contaminated through neighborhood runoffs.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landfills and the Potential for Groundwater Contamination

For Teachers 7th - 8th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Does Mining Produce Acid Runoff?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine how mining and other industry operations can lead to acid runoff.  In this mining instructional activity students study weathering and complete a lab on it. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get to the Point!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students write out sources of pollution and identify contaminants are most likely found in urban runoff.  For this pollution lesson students compare toxicity tests and chemical analysis of potential contaminants. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It'll Go With the Flow...

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

Estuary and Watershed

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers investigate the San Francisco Bay Estuarine Research Reserve and watershed. In this estuary and watershed lesson plan, students complete 4 activities to better understand estuarine systems. They include studying the San...
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Activity
NOAA

It All Runs Downhill

For Students 3rd - 5th
Examine how pollution makes its way into an ocean with help from a model watershed. Scholars use household items to recreate a mini-watershed, equipped with pollutants, that when mixed with rain drain into a model's body of water. After...
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Activity
NOAA

Toxic! Or Is It?

For Students 3rd - 5th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Microcosms in the Biosphere

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In a series of lessons, examine the impact on humans by microcosms in the biosphere. Among the plans structured for students with different abilities and learning styles, are activities describing the symbiotic relationship, drawing the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When It Rains it Drains

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the major paths of water on the Earth's surface, and to investigate the many factors that contribute to those paths. Students demonstrate their understanding of a watershed by identifying the defining features of a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's The Flow?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine urban runoff and identify peak flows. They examine causes for different flow rates, and complete worksheets and a graph.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Pollution Lesson Plan: What's the Flow?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study urban runoff. They identify the urban runoff in a simulated area and determine peak flows using charted data. Finally, they discuss possible causes of the differences in flow rates.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Model Aquifer

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students build a model that depicts how water is stored in an aquifer. They examine ways in which groundwater can become contaminated.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Seeds Tell the Story

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

Storm Drain Dumping

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students develop an awareness of what happens to water contaminated through neighborhood runoffs. Students perform an experiment that shows what happens to runoff when it's diverted to different places.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wetlands Project

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars discover how wetlands filter out contaminants before they can reach other bodies of water. In groups, they design and build a model of a stormwater wetland. They test the water quality and inform their classmates about...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beyond the Tap

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain the basic properties of a watershed including how water flows from higher to lower elevations and how watersheds are interconnected. They comprehend how the placement of buildings, roads, and parking lots can be...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology: Effects of Land Use on Natural Streams

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine how humans affect various ecosystems. In this ecology lesson, 8th graders discuss different ways that contaminants enter the stream. They explain the consequences of eutrophication in lakes.
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Activity

What happened to the frogs?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Shared Resource Students will select ten rubber frogs and determine their pollutant source based on their malformations. Students will write a brief essay on their findings. Students will be engaged in the lesson the entire time!
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Lesson Plan
Marine Institute

Water Pollution

For Teachers 5th - 7th Standards
Sixth graders investigate the various types of pollutants found in water and ways to help prevent water pollution. Through a hands-on experiment, students create samples of polluted water by mixing water with vegetable oil, dirt, and...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Reading Comprehension 5: Level 10

For Students 9th - 10th
Whether used as a reading comprehension assessment, as the basis of a mini-lesson on reading strategies, or as extra practice, this exercise will prove to be valuable because of the answers and explanation key that accompanies the...