Lesson Plan – Water Quality

Guided Exploration

Grade Level:

MS/HS

Subject:

Water Quality, Parameters

Duration:

Five Hours

Location:

Classroom and Nearby Water Sources

Can We Swim in Lake Pontchartrain? An EPA Mystery

Source: Fondriest Environmental Learning Center

Overview:  

Students will invesitigate the quality of water by collecting data on parameters including temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, nitrates, and nitrites.  They will determine what it means for water to be "safe," and identify what causes can alter water quality.

Activities include:

  • Exploring the types of parameters used to invesitagte water quality including: temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, nitrates, and nitrites
  • Defining what "safe" means for bodies of water
  • Using a variety of tools to measure water quality
  • Collecting and analyzing water quality data from water samples
  • Identifying primary causes of changes in water quality
  • Organizing and communicating the take-aways from this exploration

Applicable LSSS

6-MS-ESS3-4

6-MS-LS2-1

6-MS-LS2-2

7-MS-LS2-4

8-MS-ESS3-3

HS-EVS1-1

HS-EVS1-2

HS-EVS1-3 

HS-ESS2-2 

Objectives:  

Students will identify common parameters for measuring water quality.

Students will use appropriate tools and techniques to investigate the quality of a nearby waterway.

Students will use data to analyze the quality of a water sample.

Students will identify primary causes of changes in water quality.

Background:

Visit the Arroyo Seco Foundation's "Vital Signs: The Five Basic Water Quality Parameters" and read the following Fondriest Environmental Learning Center article for background on this topic.

"Parameters"

Source: Fondriest Environmental Learning Center
A petrochemical plant in St. Gabriel, LA (Source: David Grunfeld)
A petrochemical plant in St. Gabriel, LA (Source: David Grunfeld)
A water sample ready for testing (Source: Tim McCabe)
A water sample ready for testing (Source: Tim McCabe)