Well, What Will We Drink? Diana Larrabee Corcoran High School Syracuse City School District
Well, What Will We Drink? This environmental health learning experience encourages students to investigate the publicly available information on drinking water sources.
Well, What Will We Drink? This three day activity includes: A directed case study A lab activity
Core Connections Introduction to solution concentration Parts per million (ppm) Serial dilution Data Analysis
Before We Begin Ground Rules All group members are responsible for all group work. Everyone participates. Group process will be evaluated.
Group Roles Facilitator - moderates discussion, keeps the team on task Recorder - takes the official notes of the groups discussion Spokesperson - answers oral questions and acts as spokesperson for the group Technician - makes sure group has all needed materials, organizes work area
The Scenario Please read along while our volunteers read for us.
Your Task Your group will find information on well water and the public water supply. From this information you will prepare a presentation for Jim and Norma to help them decide what they will drink.
Resources
Resources US Environmental Protection Agency Ground Water & Drinking Water EPA List of Drinking Water Contaminants & MCL’s. “Water on Tap: What You Need to Know Online booklet on private wells NYS Department of Health Drinking Water Protection Program tm “Individual Water Supply Wells-Fact Sheet 3, Recommended Residential Water Quality Testing” Links to required water quality reports for large NYS public water supplies.
Research Time Please answer questions numbered 4,6 and 14 on the “Your Task” handout, using the resources that have been provided in the folders. You have 3 minutes
Brief Reflection Student timeline will vary based on research method chosen. Answers will be used to prepare a presentation for the Alvarez family.
Lab Activity Ppm, ppb and Serial Dilution How concentrated is a part per million? How can we make a solution with that concentration? How concentrated is a part per billion?
Parts per Million Parts per million = grams of solute grams of solution X
Start the Lab Technicians should acquire the lab materials. You may proceed as soon as you have read the information and procedure. If you have questions, please ask before you act.
Lab Please clean up the materials before answering the questions. You have 10 minutes.
Check Your Understanding Homework Ideas: - Review your research - Concentration practice problems
Day 3 Students will use the information from their research to prepare their presentations.
The Presentations Review your research and the water quality report for the Alvarez’s well. Your group will need to prepare a 3 minute presentation for the Alvarez’s. You will need to take a position and defend the recommendation using information from your research. You have 15 minutes to prepare your presentation.
Extensions Students research of bottled water standards Use the serial dilution technique to prepare solutions with a series of pH values Compare concentrations to hormone levels, often as small as parts per trillion