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Water Quality Testing

Outdoor Activity (On/Off Campus)

Grade Level: middle-school, elementary-school, high-school

About:  Water Quality Testing is a hands-on learning activity for your students to learn how to use different parameters to test the water of local streams and/or rivers in the Dan River Basin.

 

Download Lesson:  (Download All)

  1. Water Monitoring Field Data Sheet
  2. pH chart
  3. Turbidity chart

Time: Two - four class periods; fall and spring comparison

 

Grade Level/Curriculum Requirement:  5th – 9th

 

Objective: 

  • Students will learn to monitor water quality by using various parameters for testing including temperature, turbidity, recording rainfall, weather observations, and visual assessment
  • Students will investigate and understand that human activities affect the health of the watershed
  • The student will investigate and understand that humans impact the environment and that major health and safety issues are associated with water quality

Standards Correlation: SOL: 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, LS.8, LS.9, BIO.8

 

Essential Standards: Ecosystems; Earth/Environmental

 

Materials: 

  1. Water Monitoring Field Data Sheet per student
  2. pH chart per student
  3. Turbidity chart per student
  4. Two pH test strips per student
  5. Turbidity sticker per student
  6. 16oz. plastic cup per student

 

Procedure:

  1. Begin by reviewing the definition of a watershed and how watersheds work. Students can view the following videos to understand the concept: https://youtu.be/QOrVotzBNto 
https://youtu.be/-bvZCdMecEo
  2. Once all students have their materials, follow along with the Fall Water Quality Testing Video 1- Fall Comparison. Students will compare two samples of water by testing the pH and turbidity of their selected water samples.
  3. Students will retest the same water sources again in the spring and note any changes. Follow along with the Water Quality Testing Video 2 – Spring Comparison.
  4. Have the students discuss in groups any changes they saw in their samples and what may have contributed to the changes.

 

Helpful Info & Links:
DRBA Youtube videos to go along with lesson:
Water Quality Testing Video 1 – Fall Comparison

Water Quality Testing Video 2 – Spring Comparison
Watershed Video
Link to purchase additional pH test strips (part number 2974)
Link to purchase additional turbidity stickers (part number 5886-STICKER; will need to call to request item, not available on website individually)