Stream
Quality
Extension
2: Camouflage in Nature
Appendix
1: Field trip Reminders
Appendix
2: Water Chemistry Kits
Extension
1: Water Chemistry
Overview
If we rely on our eyes and nose, we sometimes miss important indicators
of water quality or lack of quality. Chemistry is another way
of informing our perception of water quality. By testing the chemistry
of the stream we get an immediate numeric indication of the chemical
composition of the stream at that point in time. Each test tells
us specific information.
We
will be performing some basic water-chemistry analysis. We are
looking for temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen (DO). Free flowing
stream water should be cooler than the air; it should have a neutral
pH (there is a narrow band which supports life) and have enough
oxygen for creatures to breathe! Use good laboratory safety practices
at all times. Some of the chemical solutions used in these tests
are strong acids or bases and may be toxic. Wash affected areas
immediately if you spill any of the solutions on yourself. Report
any spills immediately. Also, report any broken glassware or problems
with any of the equipment or apparatus. In general, use common
sense.
Specific
instructions for each test are located at the test station. Read
the instructions before you begin the test. Follow the instructions
carefully. If you are uncertain or have any questions, ask.
Objectives
Provide a baseline understanding of water chemistry. Teach good
sampling techniques and learn "in the field" testing techniques.
Estimated
Duration
1 to 1.5 hours
| Materials |
A
sample bottle for collecting water for each station
|
Testing
kits (See Appendix 2)
|
Thermometer,
pH meter, DO testing kit (Appendix 2).
|
Recording
materials (clipboard , pencil, data sheets or field journal)
|
Clean
water to rinse the equipment
|
Watch
or stop watch
|
Waste
bottle
|
Surgical
gloves
|
Eye
protection
|
Bucket
for washing hands
|
Boots
to take samples
|
Antiseptic
solution to wash hands after the sampling (Speak to the
school nurse for recommendations)
|
Preparation
Specific instructions for each test are located at the test station.
Read the instructions before you begin the test. Follow the instructions
carefully. If you are uncertain or have any questions, ask the
teacher.
Lesson
Plan
Class
setting
Script
of class interactions
Make a connection with previous discussion of watershed.
Display
and Teaching Materials
Overhead Projection 1
Activity:
Collect Several Natural Objects
| Lecture |
- Explain
about water chemical analysis. (See Background Information
2)
|
-
Explain what temperature, pH and Dissolved Oxygen indicate
about water quality.
|
- Chemical
analysis should ideally be done more than once at the
same location, because the more observations that are
made, the better one's understanding of stream conditions.
|
- Indicate
specific locations for students testing.
|
|
|
- Demonstrate
how to use the equipment.
|
-
Explain safety concerns about some chemicals.
|
| Wrap
up |
- Discuss
students' streamside activities and their observations.
|
How might water chemistry change during different times
of day, or in different seasons?
|
What
kinds of wild life could be seen in different time and
seasons?
|
What
kind of human activities could seen in different time,
weekends and seasons?
|
| |
- Discuss
how human impacts might be affecting the stream environment
and water quality.
|
| Clean
up |
- Empty
all used chemicals and water in the waste bottles, take
them back to the school for proper disposal.
|
- Wash
hands with antiseptic.
|
Extension
1: Water Chemistry
Extension
2: Camouflage in Nature
Overview
In this module students observe natural objects and their colors.
Students reproduce the colors by mixing and painting with watercolors.
| Objectives |
| Students
will: |
Recognize
and describe colors by studying natural objects from the
stream environment.
|
Imitate
colors by mixing watercolor.
|
Estimated
Duration:
45 minutes to 1 hour
| Materials |
Natural
objects; leaves, flowers, twigs, rocks, feathers
|
A
plastic bag for each student
|
Watercolor
or tempera (primary colors; yellow cyan and magenta)
|
A
paper plate for a pair of students
|
A
small paint brush for each student
|
A
piece of 8.5" x 11" heavy weight drawing paper or watercolor
paper for each student
|
A
cup of water for a pair of students
|
Some
tapes for taping the natural objects down on the paper
|
Preparation
The instructor has prepared materials for each team. The instructor
has her/his own materials ready for the demonstration. Show how
the students can best set themselves up with objects, paint, water,
and tape to work outdoors.
Lesson
Plan
Class
setting
The students are paired into working teams. The instructor has
prepared materials for each team. The instructor has her/his own
materials ready for the demonstration.
Script of class interactions
Use camouflage as an example to describe and explain the adaptations
of plants and animals to their environment. Explain the characteristics
of biotic and abiotic.
Display
and Teaching Materials
Images of camouflage (Appendix 3) Show the
images of camouflage. Ask what is going on in the picture, and
why this phenomenon happens in nature.
Activities
| Activity
1: Collect some natural objects |
| Ask
to the students to collect some natural objects in and around
the stream. There are many interesting colored natural objects
on the ground. Ask them not to disturb vegetation and the
stream environment. |
- Pick
up some natural objects in and around the stream
|
| |
| Activity
2: Observing the colors from natural objects |
| Ask
students how many colors they can recognize from each object,
how to name or describe each color. |
- Tape
some of the objects on to the paper
|
- Look
carefully at each object
|
|
|
| Activity
3: Mixing the primary colors, and imitate the colors |
| Explain
what primary colors do. Review how to use watercolor and brush.
Demonstrate the process. |
- Decide
which color to imitate from natural objects
|
- Two
students share a paper plate and watercolor paints
|
- Mix
three primary colors to create similar colors
|
- Tape
the object onto the paper
|
- Try
to duplicate the colors next to the
|
- Choose
another color to imitate
|
| |
| Wrap
up |
Students
share their works.
|
Appendix
1: Field Trip Reminders
This field trip is an opportunity for you and your students to
observe and study living streams. Before jumping out from the
bus let's review some rules and safety issues. These were drafted
by Homewood Montessori 6th grade students in Fall 1998.
To
be a good observer:
- You
must be quiet and observant. Look and listen, record your
observations, think before asking questions.
|
- Pay
attention to what you're looking at. Does it move? Does
it have legs? How does it move?
|
- You
should not disturb the environment. You have to become
part of the background. To become part of the background
you have to sit really still. (leave only foot prints,
take only memories!)
|
- Treat
all living creatures with patience and respect. Be quiet
and sensitive when working with living things!
|
- If
you are drawing from a model you have to concentrate and
observe. You can't draw the model without observing it.
|
- To
be a good observer in both art and science means not to
disturb the environment and pay careful attention to detail.
In art, you draw what you see. In science you write about
what you see.
|
- Get
every detail that you can on to the paper, in your writing,
your drawing... or in your head.
|
Appendix
2: Water Analysis Kits
Temperature Pocket Pal Tester
Company: HATCH Company, Phone: 970-669-9032, E-mail: intl@hatch.com
Catalogue No.: 44450-00
Price: $41.00
pH
Pocket Pal Tester
Company: HATCH Company, Phone: 970-669-9032, E-mail: intl@hatch.com
Catalogue No.: 44350
Price: $42.00
pH
Paper
Company: HATCH Company, Phone: 970-669-9032, E-mail: intl@hatch.com
Catalogue No.: 376-33 Length of the paper ribbon: 15' pH range:
4.5 - 7.5
Price: $5.50
Dissolved
Oxygen high range
Company: HATCH Company, Phone: 970-669-9032, E-mail: intl@hatch.com
Catalogue No.: 1469-00 Model: OX-2P
Range: 0.2-4, 1-20 sample size 60mL
Smallest Increment: 0.2, 1
Method/Chemistry: Drop count titration/Modified Winkler
Approximate Nombers of tests: 100
Price: $47.00
