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Earthworks
Earth System Science for Secondary Teachers
What happened to our pond?
Grade level: 6
Content Area: Earth Science/ Inquiry, water quality/soil
Time: ??
Standards: Scientific inquiry; movement of water; relationship between groundwater and surface water; collecting and recording data; measurement; observation; analyze and interpret data; draw conclusions
Background knowledge/skills: Safe ethical field practices, measurement, note taking, variables, GPS, interview skills, PowerPoint, Excel
Objectives:The students will conduct a variety of test and interviews to determine possible causes of extremely high phosphates in our pond.
Materials: ??
Procedures: Teams of 4; problem of pond is presented; brainstorm possible causes; students develop an investigative plan; conduct water and soil tests; contact local authorities re: maintenance of surrounding property; investigate rainfall and flooding history; record data and prepare charts and graphs on Excel; present to class via PowerPoint; teacher acts as facilitator; guide students as to where to find out historical data and supervise testing kits
Assessment: PowerPoint presentation (using a rubric with set criteria) with the results of teams investigation
Resources: Administration; district science center; nearby pond; teaching partner allows me to take fewer students into the field at once
Barriers: Unpredictable weather; time; equipment
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