 Adirondack
Curriculum
Project - www.adkcurriculum.org
NYS Content Area Standard
CDOS
1. Career Development
ELA
1. Language for Information & Understanding
MST1.
Analysis, Inquiry, Design
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Title: Water Pollution Solution
CHALLENGE TO BE
REVISED 6/06
Grade Level: Grades 5 and 11
Author: Shannon Hansen and PJ Motsiff, Ballston Spa CSD
Email: shansen@bscsd.org
pmotsiff@bscsd.org
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Adirondack Curriculum Content Area
_X_ Natural History
___ Human History
___ Culture & the Arts
___ Government & Civics
___ Economy
___ Health, Recreation &
Life Skills |
Investigative Question or Issue: What are the
similiarities and differences of cleaning water naturally and through
municipalities?
Challenge:
Eleventh
grade chemistry students will demonstrate and educate fifth grade
students about the process of municipal water treatment. Fifth
grade students will be able to communicate to the eleventh grade
students the role of natural processes in water purification.
Context for
Challenge:
Eleventh grade and fifth grade students will be divided into 2 groups
based upon interest. One group will be in charge of developing
and performing lab demonstrations. The other group will be
responsible for creating a powerpoint that will visually and verbally
conveys scientific ideas.
Approximately 25 fifth graders and 25 eleventh graders will work in
assigned peer groups of 4 each representing the four component pieces
of the project (1 fifth grader power point, 1 fifth grader lab, 1
eleventh grader powerpoint and 1 eleventh grader lab). Each group
of 4 will be responsible for ensuring the learning within their
group.
In order to increase comfort level and team mentality, each class will
work on getting to know others in their own class, as well as get to
know the "exchange" class by developing a "pen-pal" relationship.
Each class will come up with 5 questions they all want to ask of the
other class. They will do this by brainstorming in teacher
facilitated groups. The list of questions will be e-mailed by
each teacher and answered by the individual students during the week
before their meeting. Upon meeting an icebreaker will be
conducted.
Learning exchanges will take place in groups of four. Both self
and peer evaluation will be utilized during this time.
Each group will be required to discuss the differences and similarities
of the two types of clean-up. Both classes will meet as a whole
to share ideas that were talked about. Upon closing each
individual will be assigned the task of finding an article (newspaper,
periodical, internet) that surrounds the issue of water quality for
homework. All students will turn in a summary attached to their
article. Each student will be given a record sheet so that each
family can record a 24 hour water use log to be turned in to their
respective teacher.
All students will need access to the internet and powerpoint.
Eleventh graders performing lab demonstrations will be providede with
materials such as filters, funnels, coal and distillation
equipment. Fifth graders responsible for lab activities will be
provided with a sponge, pail and soil. Students will be given
appropriate class time to work on the projects. We plan to meet
at the high school labs during a 2 hour lab block. A bus will be
necessary to transport students to the high school.
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Quality Standards:
- Teachers will assign groups based on interest
and personality considerations.
- Teachers will monitor the questions and
exchanges between students for appropriateness.
- Teachers will be guides during the development
of the student demonstrations and presentations.
- During the meeting time teachers will be
responsible for maintaining a safe environment for all students as well
as troubleshoot any problems that may arise.
- All scheduling and facility use will be
arranged by each teacher
We hope to address many curricular content areas including: ELA
(communication for understanding), MST (technology use and inquiry) as
well as mention aspects of possible careers in the area of water
clean-up (C-DOS).
For reference, Shelburne Farms "Project Sasons" by Deborah Parrella,p.
285, 1995, Shelburne Vermont.
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Adapted for the Adirondack
Curriculum Project from
the work of Education By Design TM and Leading EDGE, LLC
©ACP 2002
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Northern Forest Partnership.