La SORPESA de AGUA AZUL
(The Surprise of the Blue Water)
 
Deb Jones
Teresa Rodkey
Kenneth Henderson Middle School
Garden City, Kansas
 
Overview:
This inter disciplinary activity will introduce students to The Governor’s Water Quality Initiative in Kansas.
 
Grade Level: 7-8
 
Outcome:
The students will become aware of factors that effect drinking water quality and how this could effect the health of their school environment.
 
Geographic Themes:
Location, Place, Human/Environment Interaction, Movement, Regions
 
Kansas Social Studies Standards For Benchmarks, Grade Levels 8-K:
The students will understand the roles of government and civic ideals and practices in the local school and community, Kansas, the U.S., and different nations of the world.
Grade Levels 12-K:
The students will use problem solving and decision making strategies to formulate, evaluate, and defend plans for addressing issues or problem situations in the local school and community, Kansas and its surrounding states, the United States and its region, and the world.
 
National Geography Standards, Grades 5-8:
 #14
The geographically informed person knows and understands how human actions modify the physical environment.
 
Performance Objectives:
1. The students will gather, test, and evaluate water quality at school.
2. The student will compose a business letter reporting their school water quality results to an appropriate official.
3. The students will identify and debate water quality issues affecting, local, state, national, and global communities.
 
Vocabulary:
 Atrazine Pesticides  Pollutants Compliance
 Contaminants Volatile  Herbicide Partnerships
 Initiate Organic  Fecal coliform bacteria
 Basin Inorganic  
 
Materials Needed:
 
Procedures:
Activity 1: YUCKY WATER
1. Distribute one paper cup to each student.
2.
Label the cups so that you have different amounts of each kind of water.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
clear water 40%
muddy water 20%
milky water 16%
“atrazine” water 16%
empty, no water 4%
3.
Discussion:
a.
b.
Ask students who did not receive any water how they felt.
Discuss the water quality of samples A-D, possible type of pollution, possible sources of this type of pollution and the effect on humans and their environment.
Activity 2: The Governor’s Water Quality Initiative

1.

Read and discuss The Governor’s Water Quality Initiative pamphlet. Relate this Initiative to the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin.

2.

Discuss the factors that effect drinking water and what conditions would be considered unhealthy. Compare the Kansas-Lower Republican Basin to your area or another river basin in Kansas.
Activity 3: School Water Testing
1.
Lab Activity: This can be done in small groups or as a demonstration.
a.

b.
c.

d.
Students read technical background information on “Taking a Water Sample”.
Introduce students to testing methods and procedures.
Perform tests for chlorine, pH and nitrates as a demonstration or in student teams.
Students record data on the Water Quality Data Sheet and then compare the results with accepted water quality standards.

2.

Evaluation of Water Testing
a.


b.



c.
Discuss test results. Did the tests indicate any problem areas in the school’s water? If yes, which tests? Did more than one team get the same results?
If test results are not within the acceptable limits, students then speculate on the source or nature of the problem and develop a plan to report the results to the appropriate officials.
Students write a business letter to school officials reporting on the results of their testing and any suggestions to improve water quality in their school.
 
Assessment:
1.
Observe student participation in the water testing.

2.

Check student responses on Water Quality Data Sheet.

3.

Check for accuracy in business letters.

Assessment Rubrics:
5 Student participated in the water testing activity; completed the data sheet with accurate information; composed a business format letter that demonstrates an accurate, informative understanding of The Governor’s Water Quality Initiative, the testing results, and possible solutions to any problems.
3 Student participated in the water testing activity; completed the data sheet with minimal errors in accuracy of information; composed a letter that does not follow the business letter format and demonstrated a “developing” understanding of the information regarding The Governor’s Water Quality Initiative, the testing results, and possible solutions to any problems.
1 Student participated in the water testing activity; attempted the data sheet; attempted a business letter but shows a lack of understanding of the format, The Governor’s Water Quality Initiative, the testing results, or possible solutions to any problems.
 
Extensions:

1.

Visit the Kansas Water Office web page at http://ink.org/public/kwo or e-mail ctv@fog.kwo.state.ks.us

2.

For “Yucky Water” students could tally the different kinds of water and calculate the percentage of each type.

3.

Research water quality issues in other countries, i.e. microbiology diseases.

4.

Take a field trip to the local water treatment plant, water department, or country extension and conservation offices.

5.

Have guest speakers who work in water quality areas.
 
Resources:
 
 
 
Water Quality Data Sheet
 
 
Name: Team:
1. What did the results show concerning chlorine levels in the drinking water that was tested? Within acceptable limits? Too high?


2. What did the results show concerning pH levels in the drinking water that was tested? Within acceptable limits? Too acidic or too base?


3. What did the results of show concerning nitrate levels in the drinking water that was tested? Within acceptable limits or too high?


4. What did the results show concerning lead levels in the drinking water that was tested? Within acceptable limits? Too high?


5. Which test results were beyond acceptable limits? Did more than one team get the same results? Speculate on the source or nature of the problem:

 

 

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