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Lab | Google Slide | Materials | |
1. Designing a watershed | Designing a watershed that filters water naturally | G_slide | TriCity area in San Francisco Bay Area Placemats, Shape it (dough), Plastic spoons, knives or other items to help mold a watershed |
2. Elements, Compounds, and Pollutants | Overview of elements, compounds and pollutants in urban areas. | G_slide | Periodic Table Placemats, Sets of elements and compounds, Sets of pollutants, Worksheet |
3. Solvents and Solutes | Comparing how substances dissolve in warm water | G_slide | Beakers, Measuring spoons, Stirrer, Salt, sand, sugar, baking soda, Epsom salt, mud, warm and cool water, Disposal buckets for table, Worksheet |
4. Polluted, Dirty and Clean Water | Comparing differences amongst polluted, dirty and clean water | G_slides | sand, oil, soap, salt, Swift GH microscope, slides, jars with lids or containers with stirring rod, eyedropper, beakers |
5. .Constructed Wetlands | Exploring the components of filtering water in a natural system using biological systems. | G_slides | tule, cattail, soil (two types, one should be hydric) |
6. Filtering Water | Experimenting with filtering water | G_slides | Funnels, Beakers, Erlenmeyer flask, Sand (coarse and fine), Dirt from garden cottonballs |
Fifth Graders learn the importance of water to life and how tule reeds can reduce the effects of chemical pollution in wetlands. This Project includes students taking regular pH readings in three tanks in the science lab (one acid, one control and one base) to see if the tules transform the pH of the water over time. They graph their results. The experiment is repeated one to two times during the year to further cement the concept that scientific results should be repeatable with consistent results. The project includes a fieldtrip to Tule Ponds to take readings. Supporting labs cover the importance of water, pH and pollution. Students learn the importance of using a control in an experiment. At the end of the project, students make a class report on their experiment results and on Tule Ponds.
Fifth graders can process more than one thought at a time. They are able to describe and compare and easily incorporate data. They can be taught to present their ideas and solicit questions. They are better team players. Vocabulary is not is difficult to learn and do not require the repetition. They are becoming young adults.