Water Quality Investigation Projects

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 138

This lesson into water chemistry crossed curriculum with environmental sciences, economics, and environmental policy/law. Students were posed with an investigation into the nutrient load on our local waterways. The lesson was supplemented with a video from WFSU on how nutrients have affected oysters beds in Appalachicola Bay. We discussed the economic impact of the loss of oyster production, especially in this touristy prominent area. We recalled the nitrogen cycle from biology and how nutrients impact harmful algal blooms and Red Tide events. We researched sources of nutrient pollution. And then finally headed outside to monitor our own retention ponds around South Walton. Students collected samples and gained experience with quality control and quality assurance by maintaining collection logs, labeling samples, and completing chains of custody. We then used the LaMotte kits to analyze for nutrients and dissolved oxygen; bonus was the analysis of total coliforms (bacteria). Kids really took to the excitement of this. They wanted to sample EVERYTHING! In the end, our investigation had expanded into drinking water (tap water), bottled water, old bottled water someone left in their car for a week, another teachers' fish tank, and the drain line from an AC unit. The results were mostly what I expected them to be. But all made the students pause and ask why...

The kids learned about adding phosphates to treated tap water for corrosion control and to bottled water for taste from our results. We learned about how much dissolved oxygen species need and how fish kills happen. We looked at local utility water quality reports and read articles on Wetland Protection policies and the cyanobacteria outbreak in Toledo OH.  Students were really able to see the connection between all these things we've talked about in so many classes and over so many years. It really drove home how complicated environmental policy can be and how our actions have wide spread impact. ..All of this excitement was triggered because your donation allowed these students to analyze their OWN samples and see the results for themselves. That kind of ownership and buyin can't be underestimated. Real learning and connection happened this month all thanks to you. Thank you so, so much!