Water Quality Monitoring

Monitor stream temperatures; Take the dissolved oxygen, pH, Nitrite levels; Submit data to cooperative  agencies

 

Student Goals: Students will Monitor stream temperatures; Take the dissolved oxygen, pH, Nitrite levels; Submit data to cooperative  agencies.

Instructional Resources: a Professional that can show a person that is not familiar with techniques, how to collect and interpret data. Water quality monitoring tools (kits, strips, meters, sechi disk, kick nets- whatever you can get your hands on...)- Good data can be collected with as little as a thermometer, pH strips, and kids collecting clues such as aquatic invertebrates.

Activities:

bulletCollect Dissolved Oxygen (DO), pH, Nitrite/Nitrate levels, phosphate levels. Strategic data collection locations can illustrate the effect of fire, riffles, stagnant pools, etc. on water quality. Students should understand what dissolved oxygen is and why it's important to trout, salmon, and other species. Answer 2 ways that DO gets in the water and what an acceptable range is. Answer, research, and investigate cause and effect related to each of the water quality attributes.
bulletInterpret data and communicate it by posting it or sharing it.
bulletCollect and monitor data.
bulletGuest speakers

Cross-curricular:

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Language Arts: Write a summary of the water quality and how it was determined. Can you make conclusions? how and why?

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Math: Use math to make conclusions and measurements. Graph data to make points.

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Science: Collect Dissolved Oxygen (DO), pH, Nitrite/Nitrate levels, phosphate levels. Strategic data collection locations can illustrate the effect of fire, riffles, stagnant pools, etc. on water quality. Students should understand what dissolved oxygen is and why it's important to trout, salmon, and other species. Answer 2 ways that DO gets in the water and what an acceptable range is. Answer, research, and investigate cause and effect related to each of the water quality attributes.

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Social Studies: Use a GPS unit to record locations where data was collected.

Multi-sensory- learner involvement & self assessment / Outcome:

bulletCollect, Evaluate, and Communicate using specific data that makes a point.

Extensions:

bulletInvestigate Geo-caching; Guest speakers that can better explain specific types of data and water quality monitoring techniques.