Teaching an environmental science class is quite a challenge when there are not many opportunities to go outside. My students are very interested to learn, but when I take them outside for any lesson they get so much more excited and they want to learn even more. A section is also on eutrophication and how we can help. As a class we are going to determine what small ponds (out of 4) within our town, need fountains. A pond needs a fountain when the water quality is extremely poor, the oxygen levels are very low, etc.
Within this section I would love to the opportunity to have the students to be able to go to these different ponds and test the water quality. For them to understand that the water quality is pretty bad in many areas and from the different factors we test (pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity) the students need to understand what causes these factors. By having a turbidity probe, DO probe, and a pH meter we will be able to understand that different levels of these factors within the different bodies of water we work with. Based on these value and the observation of the location of these water bodies, the students can hopefully use this hands on assignment to fully understand more about water quality and the different factors which cause these qualities. By telling students the water qualities of areas and showing them pictures is not truly helping them think and giving them a need to know. By having them test these different areas hands on, this can help them truly think hard and long as to what causes these results. Based on the results collected and which areas are most likely to become worse over time, my students can have an influence on which ponds within the town recieve fountains.
Tags: Assignment
