Science Education Idea Exchange

These lesson plans include activities to build background knowledge on ecological abiotic and biotic factors, and how they impact the environment. Students will practice their knowledge in a simulation of the impact of fishing and a class debate over the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers. There is a long-term project to measure the effect of the use of fertilizer on water. There are colored and blackline copies of the student packet as a secured PDF. There is also a secured PDF with the teacher's guide and materials for a matching activity. This product includes the following activities: ⚪Forest Fire Probe ⚪ Algae & Fertilizer Lab  (can be purchased separately) ⚪Ecosystem Influence Matching Activity ⚪Invasive Impact Report ⚪DNR Simulation ⚪Nitrogen Fertilizer Use Debate

Photo by Julia Maior on Unsplash A few years back, I took a class from the University of Lincoln put on by the Groundwater Foundation . One of the presenters introduced us to her crumpled paper activity. Sadly, I don't remember the specifics but I will outline what I remember below. This activity provides a neat explanation of runoff. Materials: washable markers spray bottle with water paper Procedure:  In a small group, crumple a piece of paper. Color various regions on the crumpled paper:  city dump- red neighborhood that uses fertilizers  (etc) Take the spray bottle and saturate the paper so the markers run. Discuss observations: how does runoff lead to pollution of rivers and groundwater?