DiscoverE
Water Pollution Cleanup
How do scientists determine the best method for removing pollutants from our water sources? Environmental scholars experiment with pollution clean-up options to discover which are the most cost-effective, fastest, and most thorough....
Cornell University
Fibers, Dyes, and the Environment
Nanofibers can be made through electrospinning or force spinning in order to reduce the negative impact on the environment. Pupils study the role of fibers and dye on the environment through a series of five hands-on activities. Then,...
Beyond Benign
Water Waste
Explore the process of wastewater treatment. Scholars analyze different samples of water before drawing conclusions about the types of chemicals in the water that leaves our homes.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Excuse Me, Is This the Way to the Drainpipe?
Elementary kids read and color the story of Willy Wetsworth, a drop of water, as he describes the journey that he and his friends take to provide fresh water to houses. He tells his story to Martha Merriweather, a little girl, and...
College Board
2012 AP® Environmental Science Free-Response Questions
Sometimes solving one problem leads to another. Scholars respond to questions about fracking to harvest natural gas and other environmental related topics. The resource provides items released from the 2012 AP® Environmental Science exam...
University of Southern California
Human Impact on the Sea
How far does the human hand reach? Five interactive lessons lead classes through a unit exploring the human impact on ocean resources, pollution, and even extinction. Learners discover how their decisions affect the ocean environment...
Teach Engineering
Grow Your Own Algae!
Develop a model of a wastewater treatment center. The last activity of the unit has pupils mix a lake water sample into a tank of water containing fertilizers. Over time, the algae from the lake water grows and removes the nutrient-rich...
Teach Engineering
Microbes Know How to Work!
Scholars harness the power of microbes with an engaging activity that uses yeast to break down sugar in water. Multiple setups of the same experiment lets learners determine which temperature results in the fastest rate of sugar...
Teach Engineering
Biological Processes: Putting Microbes to Work
Is there such a thing as useful microbes? Get ready to perform experiments on applying microbes for wastewater treatment. The first installment of the three-part unit provides background information to prepare young engineers for two...
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Recycled Water: A Smart Way to Reuse Water
Learn about wastewater and recycled water with a science reading activity. After learners finish a two-page passage about conserving the water supply, they answer six comprehension questions about what they have read.
Curated OER
Wastewater
High schoolers discuss what happens to their wastewater. They read about the wastewater treatment process. Students are asked what types of things get flushed down toilets or goes down drains in sinks and showers. They are taught what...
Curated OER
Super Stream Keeper's
Young scholars are introduced to Delaware's waterways as precious resources used for drinking water, water for agricultural and industrial uses, recreational areas, and as habitats for wildlife. They are introduced to wastewater...
Curated OER
The Treatment of Wastewater
Learners, through a series of lessons, study the various processes of treating wastewater. They participate in discussion and complete various worksheets and a hands-on activity, in which they observe the processes of filtration and...
Curated OER
Saving the Bay
Learners investigate water pollution prevention. In this ecology wastewater lesson, students activate prior knowledge about sewage, then view a video explaining the waste water sewage system used in the San Francisco Bay area. Learners...
Curated OER
Tracking Trace Elements
In this trace elements worksheet, students use a chart showing trace element concentrations and a map to complete 4 short answer questions.
Curated OER
What is Wastewater Treatment
Students watch and discuss a video on wastewater treatment. They write a brief summary of the film and the discussion. Then they read a pamphlet on clean water and write a one page summary.
Curated OER
Household Waste (Down the Drain)
Students brainstorm in small groups about the various ways water comes into their house. They list ways wastewater is produced in and around the home. They do an at-home inventory of all water drains and report their findings to the class.
Idaho State University
Idaho State University: Water Pollution
Explore water pollution in surface water and groundwater and investigate the treatments for both. Also, check out what happens when salt water infiltrates the fresh water sources.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Waste Not, Want Not: Use the Microbial Fuel Cell to Create Elec
Gross. What is that in the toilet? But maybe it's not just gross. Did you know there are bacteria that digest organic waste and create electrons? What if there was a way to collect those electrons to power a circuit? In this science fair...
Other
British Columbia Water and Waste Association
Non-profit organization that educates and trains people to safeguard public health and the environment. Water and wastewater industries are important parts of an environmental plan that ensures the future use of Canada's water supply.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Microbes Know How to Work!
Students design systems that use microbes to break down a water pollutant (in this case, sugar). They explore how temperature affects the rate of pollutant decomposition.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Grow Your Own Algae!
Students discover how tiny microscopic plants can remove nutrients from polluted water. They also learn how to engineer a system to remove pollutants faster and faster by changing the environment for the algae.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Natural and Urban "Stormwater" Water Cycle Models
Students apply their understanding of the natural water cycle and the urban stormwater water cycle, as well as the processes involved in both cycles to hypothesize how the flow of water is affected by altering precipitation.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Dome It Challenge
Students brainstorm, identify, and explore the pathways where their food, water, and energy originate, and where wastewater and solid waste go. They learn that resources are interdependent and that recycling wastes into resources is key...