3.1 Not a Drop to Drink: Understanding the Impact Water Quality Has in Sustaining Life
This middle school lesson, “Not a Drop to Drink? Understanding the Impact Water Quality Has in Sustaining Life,” is part of the Middle School Food and Agricultural Literacy Curriculum (Pork Checkoff/Natural Resources Science: Water). Students explore the definition of water quality—the condition of water for a particular use—and examine how natural occurrences and human use/abuse affect it. Through comparing clean and dirty water, image analysis, and discussion, students explain the impact of water quality on plant, animal, and human life.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
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- As a result of this unit the students will… Explain the role of clean water in sustaining life.
- As a result of this lesson, the students will… Explain the impact of water quality on plant, animal, and human life.
- Time required
- Instruction time for this lesson: 45 minutes.
- Grade level
- Middle School
- Materials
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- Overhead or writing surface
- LCD Projector, SMART board or computer (optional technology)
- Writing utensil
- One glass of clean, clear water
- One glass of dirty, turbid water (Mix together water with soil to create a murky water)
- 3×5 index cards
- MS.NR.3.1.TM.A-E – one per teacher
- MS.NR.3.1.ASSESS.A – one per student
- Lesson Number
- MS.NR.3.1
- Precepts
- E. Awareness; E1. Address issues important to the community
- Key Terms
- Water quality
- Resources
- Lee, Jasper (2006). Natural Resources (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. — Perlman, H. (2009). Water quality. Retrieved July 30, 2009, from United States Geological Survey, Water Science for Schools. Web site: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/waterquality.html
Downloads & Links
Aligned Standards
National Standards
- ESS.03.03.01.bDescribe characteristics of water that influence the biosphere and sustain life.
- NL-ENG.K-12.3Evaluation Strategies — Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts.
- NS.5-8.6Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
- NSS-GK-12.5Environment and Society
- PS.02.01.02.aDescribe the effects air, temperature and water have on plant metabolism and growth.