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Keeping it Clean

In-Classroom Program (no Field Trip)

Grade Level: middle-school, elementary-school

About:  Keeping It Clean is an activity that can be combined with a watershed presentation.  The activity allows students to learn how human activities impact the environment followed by designing and creating their own river cleanup device.

 

Download Lesson:  (Download All)

  1. Teacher Sheet Polluted River Clean Up Device Activity PDF
  2. DRBA Polluted River Clean Up Device Activity PDF

 

Time: This activity lasts about 15-20 minutes; works best to be combined with a virtual 15-20 minute introductory presentation on watersheds using an Enviroscape model, or previously cover watersheds in another lesson in the classroom.

 

Grade Level/Curriculum Requirement:  Grades 4, 5 & 6

 

Objective: 

  • Students will use the engineering process to design and build their own river cleaning device
  • To make students aware that human activities can impact the health of a watershed system
  • To make students understand that non-renewable resources can be managed

Standards Correlation: SOL: 4.8, 6.8 and 6.9

 

Essential Standards: Ecosystems

 

Materials: 

  • DRBA Polluted River Clean Up Device Activity PDF
  • Create packets for each student using one-gallon Ziploc bags and include the materials below, if they need to take the activity home.
  • The activity can be done in the classroom by providing each student with the materials below.
    • 3 pipe cleaners
    • 4 popsicle sticks
    • 3 rubber bands
    • 2 sticky labels
    • 2 coffee filters
  • Note: Other supplies can be substituted depending on what you have on hand, but the idea is to provide each student with enough supplies that they can build a unique river clean up device.

 

Procedure: Prior to this lesson, complete a session introducing watersheds and pollution (identifying point source and non-point source pollution) with the students. A virtual or in-classroom presentation using an Enviroscape watershed model can be requested from DRBA by emailing Krista Hodges at khodges@danriver.org. Once this session is completed, download the Keeping It Clean materials including the Teacher Sheet Polluted River Clean Up Device Activity PDF and the DRBA Polluted River Clean Up Device Activity PDF, and gather materials needed for students.

 

Helpful Info & Links:
Additional link to cover water pollution
Consider marking a storm drain on your school campus with the students, or becoming a Water Protector at your school, or free for each student! Storm Drain Project
Become a Water Protector