During this unit students explore the water cycle, learn why water is so important for life as we know it, and investigate the fate of contaminants in a watershed.
Bioaccumulation, biomagnification, water quality testing, and bioremediation are specifically addressed.
The unit culminates with an investigation of the factors affecting microbial remediation of an environmental pollutant and the use of bioremediation at the waste water treatment plant at the Sanford Underground Research Facility.
Waterworks-- Earth and Human Activity
MS-LS2-3 Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
MS-ESS2-4 Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
MS-ESS3-3 Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.*
6-8-ETS1-3 Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.