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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sources of Potential Groundwater Contamination

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners construct models that demonstrate potential sources of contamination. Students select one type of contamination model (septic system, sinkhole, landfill, disposal lagoon, leaky barrels, oil spill, agricultural contamination) to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Current Groundwater Contamination Research

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research the effects of groundwater pollutants on life. They name and describe 1 environmental factor that has an effect on our drinking water. Students read the Water-Groundwater and Pollution Article. They discuss and...
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Activity
University of Waikato

Groundwater Contamination

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Scientists study how pollution occurs in hopes of minimizing its effects. A quick activity shows how point and non-point source pollution enters groundwater and aquifers. Learners mimic the phenomenon with models that show how rain...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Groundwater as Part of the Water Cycle

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Make sure to read through the activity procedures thoroughly before teaching this lesson plan because the materials list is incomplete. Also, the mentioned worksheets and booklet are not available. However, there is no need to discard...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Groundwater Contamination

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars study the effects of leaking tanks and their contaminants on groundwater resources. They read articles and answer related questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Contaminated Drinking Water

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students predict, experiment, and draw conclusions about the safety of drinking water. In this ecology lesson, students participate in an experiment to determine if they can taste or see contamination in drinking water. Data is collected...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Groundwater Pollution Lab

For Students 8th - 10th
In this groundwater pollution worksheet, learners use a piece of bread to represent the earth, food coloring to represent contaminants in the ground and water to simulate the movement of pollutants with water through the ground. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

One Part A Mini Lab: Water Contamination

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars investigate the effects of ground water contamination. In this ground water contamination lesson plan, students create a mini well and simulate ground water flow through the well with a contaminate (food coloring). They...
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Activity
US Environmental Protection Agency

Building an Model Aquifer

For Teachers 9th - 12th
With almost half of Americans relying on groundwater supplies, it is more important than ever to protect aquifers from possible contaminants. Working in small groups, young environmentalists explore this problem as they create an aquifer...
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Activity
US Environmental Protection Agency

Aquifer in a Cup

For Teachers K - 3rd Standards
Young scientists create their very own aquifers in this science lesson on ground water. After learning about how some people get their drinking water from underground wells, young learners use sand, modeling clay, and aquarium rocks to...
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Activity
US Environmental Protection Agency

Role of Plants in Water Filtration

For Teachers 4th - 7th Standards
Investigate the amazing ability of plants to filter contaminants from water with this series of in-class demonstrations. After placing six small, potted plants in plastic cups, different solutions and mixtures are poured into them that...
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Activity
US Environmental Protection Agency

Protecting Your Drinking Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Having a clean, reliable source of drinking water is essential for any community, but in many cases this is easier said than done. Engage young environmentalists in exploring the five factors affecting vulnerability of a groundwater...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Subsurface Contamination of Groundwater

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers watch a demonstration with a balloon filled with water being buried in a milk container that has been cut length wise and filled with sand. Students are told that there is an underground storage tank filled with a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Groundwater as Part of the Water Cycle

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders study the effects of soil and rocks on filtering groundwater.  In this groundwater lesson students complete a lab activity that includes sources of contamination. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Groundwater Detectives

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners measure the pH of soil samples from a hypothetical site to locate a contaminant spill and will predict the direction of groundwater flow using mathematical modeling. They use the engineering design process to develop...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Groundwater Flow Demonstration Model

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the concept of groundwater that includes aquifers, groundwater flow, and the water table. They participate in activities using a flow demonstration model. Its use engages all types of learners because of its hands on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fruitvale Extension

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students determine sources and extent of ground water contaminate, apply mathematics to model in real world simulation, and use technology to present results.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Contaminated Drinking Water

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students investigate drinking water. In this water lesson, students discover if the water we drink is safe by participating in an experiment. Students use water and vinegar to observe how drinking water can be contaminated.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Groundwater: Cleaning Up

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the various aspects of groundwater contamination that threaten health and human safety. They create a model and display that informs other about the health and safety risks. Students illustrate ways in which these...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Contaminated Drinking Water

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore water and determine whether or not it is safe to drink. In this water exploration lesson, students are split into groups, to acts as the polluter, taster, and recorder. Students explore by placing different amounts of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

9-12: The Movie, "A Civil Action," as a Legal/Environmental Science Case Study

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze information to determine how they can help a community that has been affected by water contamination.  In this environmental science lesson, students watch portions of the movie "A Civil Action" and discuss specific...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landfills and the Potential for Groundwater Contamination

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine how a sanitary landfill is constructed, how it functions, and how waste and leachate affects the areas around the landfill. After a discussion about landfills and leachates, students construct a Sanitary Landfill Model...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It'll Go With the Flow...

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers construct a water table elevation contour map and consider the direction and rate of groundwater flow to predict the actual runoff pattern. They discuss their findings and evaluate a hypothetical landfill site based on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water, Water Everywhere, Even Underground

For Teachers 5th - 8th
The "Engage" section of a wetlands lesson plan asks young ecologists to examine a wetlands poster. You can easily find one online and display it using a projector. Pupils immerse a piece of sandstone and a piece of granite in water to...