GONNA TAKE A SEDIMENTARY JOURNEY
(or Testing the Waters)Judy D. Dollard
Eisenhower Middle School
Kansas City, Kansas
- Overview:
- Sediment, atrazine, and fecal coliform bacteria are the three main forms of water pollution in the Kansas Lower-Republican River Basin. This lesson is an experiment to test for sedimentation or turbidity.
- Grade Level: 5-7
- Outcome:
- The student will gain an understanding of sources of sediment in Kansas rivers.
- Geographic Themes:
- Location, Place, Human/Environment Interaction, Movement, Regions
- Kansas Social Studies Standards For Benchmarks (8-K):
- The student will understand the connections among people, places, and environments in the local school and community, Kansas, United States, and different nations of the World.
- National Geographic Standards:
#1
- How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective.
#2
- How to use mental maps to organize information about people, places, and environments in a spatial context.
#14
- How human actions modify the physical environment.
#15
- How physical systems affect human systems.
Performance Objectives:
- Students will collect water samples from a local source, test the water for turbidity, and categorize the results.
- Students will filter the water samples and identify the materials suspended in it.
- Students will speculate on and investigate sources of sediment in their watershed.
- Vocabulary:
hydrologist
- turbidity
- point source pollution
- non point source pollution
Materials Needed:
- wide-mouthed clean jars (minimum size, 400mL)
- clean leak proof caps for the jars
- white buttons
- coffee filters
- funnel
- metric ruler
- hand lenses
- Procedures:
1.
- Collect water samples from a local source. Use clean, odor free, wide- mouthed jars and clean lids.
2.
- Be careful not to stir up sediment when collecting your sample.
3.
- At collection site:
a.
b.
c.
d.
- Find the location of the site on a map.
- Describe the physical setting in which the sample was taken.
- Describe the odor of the sample (if any).
- Fill sample jars to overflowing, no air pockets and seal.
4.
- Conduct classroom testing within 24 hours. You should store samples in a cool dark place. (refrigerator)
5.
- Shake a sample jar. Then students should put a button in a clean, clear container. The students then should carefully fill the container to 10 cm with sample water.
6.
- The students should hold the container in the light and look into it from above. The students should classify the turbidity of their water sample using the following scale:
- Description Turbidity Level
- The button is clearly visible. Low
- The button is partially visible. Medium
- The button is not at all visible. High
7.
- Place a coffee filter in a funnel and place the funnel on top of a jar. Have the students slowly pour the sample water into the funnel. Let all the water drain through.
8.
- Lay the filter out. Students then use a hand lens to examine the deposit left on the filter.
9.
- Students then identify the solids they find on the filter. (soil, organic, etc.)
10.
- Students then speculate:
a.
b.
- How do you think the ways people use the land in our watershed around our sampling site would affect the turbidity of our water?
- How do you think the ways people in our watershed affect turbidity?
11.
Students will then investigate their watershed for sources of point and non point sources of sedimentation.
Assessment:- Assess student participation in the water collecting and testing. Student will produce a short essay detailing the testing process, the testing results and speculations of sources of sedimentation in our watershed. They will answer the question: How did your speculations compare to your investigation of the sources of sedimentation in your watershed?
- Extensions:
- Host a hydrologist.
Resources:
- Deulin, Daniel L. and G. Morgan Powell. “Non point Source Pollution in Kansas”, Cooperative Extension Service, KSU, Manhattan, KS MF-2086, March 1994.
- “Getting to Know Your Local Watershed, A Guide for Watershed Partnerships.” Conservation Technology Information Center, West Lafayette, IN.
- “How to Establish a Stream Monitoring Project.” Non point Source Pollution Section, Bureau of Water, KDHE.
- “Is Our Water at Risk?”, National Geographic Kids Network Program. Terc, Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts. National Geography Society, Washington, D.C. 20036. 1997
- “Kansas Water Quality Assessment" (305 (b) Report) 1994, KS Department of Health and Environment. Forbes Field, Topeka, KS. Dec. 1994.
- Kenny, Joan F. “Kansas: Stream Water Quality.” National Water Summary 1990-91. USGS.
- “Non point Source Management, What is it all About?” U.S. EPA, Region 7, Water and Pesticides Division, 1995.
- Ohlenbusch, Paul D. Scott L Satterthwaite, and Steven L Watson. “Managing Kansas Grazing Lands for Water Quality.” Cooperative Extension Service, KSU, Manhattan, KS., MF 2086, March 1995.
- Seuthen, Don. “Solving Water Quality Problems.” Bureau of Water, KSDHE, Topeka, KS. Water Quality Handbook, 1997.
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