FIFTH GRADE - MONITORING WATER

OBJECTIVES:
·     Designing a long term experiment.
·       Learning how to use indicator solution to test pH.

VOCABULARY:
·         pH
·         data
·       control
·          base 
·         acid

MATERIALS:
·         three fish tanks (10 gallon)
·        tule plugs
·        ammonia
·        vinegar
·         lab sheet on collecting water data

BACKGROUND:
Watersheds naturally clean themselves as water can be filtered as it flows through wetlands. Water that migrates through the different levels of the watershed nourishes biological life. However, we sometimes pollute these wetlands by discharging industrial or municipal waste into the watershed (point source pollution). This overloads the system and pollution of toxic substances may increases. Even small amounts of pollution (non point pollution) can accumulate and cause significant damage. Our watersheds reflect the health of our environment.

Wetlands were once destroyed because they were perceived as worthless land and their ecological value was not understood. Half of the wetland acreage existing in 1770 in the contiguous United States had been destroyed by 1970. Although there are restrictions on the filling of wetlands throughout the United States, pollutants from surrounding areas threatens the health of some wetlands

 Runoff from paved surfaces including streets, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots and roofs;, as well as unpaved areas such as over-watered lawns and gardens and construction sites, is carried by street gutters into storm drains. The storm drain system in the vicinity of Tyson Lagoon discharges untreated runoff into Pond A. Runoff contains eroded sediment, chemicals (i.e. fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides), automotive oil and grease, paint particles, soaps, garbage, pet waste, and heavy metals (i.e. copper, lead and zinc).

Some pollutants in water runoff that are toxic to humans, may be taken up by aquatic plants, bacteria, and protozoa as part of their normal photosynthetic or respiration processes. Heavy metals bind to clay particles that are common components of soils in this area, and sink to the bottom of the pond. The Tule Ponds at Tyson Lagoon Wetland Center is a natural system that cleans water. Attempts like these are human’s way of trying to restore what we have destroyed.

QUESTION:  How does tule affect the quality of freshwater?

BACKGROUND:  Water is an important resource for humans.  Natural ponds have turned into areas where storm water from urban areas go to prevent flooding.  However, pollutants from the surrounding area can enter the water through run off.  Monitoring the help of a pond can help determine if there will be problems.

PRIOR RESEARCH FOR CLASS:  What kind of pollution is in our waterways?  How does water flow in Fremont?

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Monitoring for pH can help scientists determine if something is wrong with the water supply.  Collecting data at several points can help determine if the water is poor or good.  

The fifth grade has 2 projects:

1.     Long term monitoring of a pH tank that has been “polluted” and try to determine if tule plants help to “bioremediate” the tank over time.  Another tank will be one with tule and algae that acts as a control.

2.    Data points at Tule Ponds and looking at the pH and recording the information in data booklets. 

PROCEDURE:

1. Long term monitoring of a pH tank that has been “polluted” and try to determine if tule plants help to “bioremediate” the tank over time.  Another tank will be one with tule and algae that acts as a control.

MATERIALS:  3 ten gallon fish tanks, 3 plugs of tule, vinegar, ammonia, tap water

Three tanks represent different conditions should be 10 gallons and include plugs of tule to see if the water can become healthy.  One tank  is basic by putting1 in ammonia that is about a pH of 8).  One tank is acid by putting in vinegar until pH is about 5.5.  One tank is the control with just water and tule. 

Use Universal Indicator and worksheet to experiment every 2 months.  Students will also take temperature. So there should be enough time to replicate the experiment. 

2. Data points at Tule Ponds and looking at the pH and recording the information in data booklets.

Fifth grade students go to Tule Ponds for a field trip to determine the temperature and pH.  They compare with data previously collected. 

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