Rivers Unit Part 2: Water Quality

Water Quality Unit: Stream Study, Benthic Macroinvertebrates, and Water Pollution

This unit includes 4+ lessons (50 minutes each) and 15 pages of printable work bundles. Students engage in hands-on activities, record critical notes, answer questions, complete built-in quizzes, and play interactive games. The unit follows a structured approach, breaking water quality into three key parts:

• Part 1: Physical Indicators – Students analyze physical characteristics of a waterway, such as temperature, turbidity, and streamflow.

• Part 2: Biological Indicators – A two-day lesson exploring benthic macroinvertebrates as indicators of water quality, including a hands-on activity using CD tokens to classify organisms into Class I, II, and III.

• Part 3: Chemical Indicators – Students test and interpret chemical properties such as pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, and phosphates, using provided data sheets to collect and analyze stream study results.

Each section builds toward a comprehensive stream study, where students collect, organize, and interpret real-world data. Data sheets are provided to guide investigations, and if access to a local waterway is limited, example datasets and visuals are included.

This unit offers editable slideshows, answer keys, materials lists, video links, crosswords, and built-in assessments. All materials can be easily adapted for Google Classroom use, making it a flexible and engaging resource for teaching water quality, stream ecology, and environmental science.

Lesson Breakdown:

Lesson 1: Physical and Chemical Water Quality Indicators

• Students record key water quality indicators on their worksheets.

• A hands-on local waterway study guides them in setting up a spreadsheet for data collection.

• Teachers can use a nearby stream or water source to facilitate real-world testing.

• PPM (Parts Per Million) activity: Students search for a tiny red dot among yellow dots to visualize chemical concentrations in water.

• A chemical data spreadsheet helps students analyze common water quality tests (e.g., pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, nitrates).

• If an outdoor study isn’t possible, sample data sheets and expected results are provided for classroom analysis.

Lesson 2: Biological Water Quality Indicators – Benthic Macroinvertebrates

• Introduction to bioindicators: Students learn about benthic macroinvertebrates and how they reflect waterway health.

• Class I, II, and III macroinvertebrates are introduced using engaging visuals and interactive challenges.

• CD 50/50 Challenge: Students use old CDs as voting tokens while identifying macroinvertebrates based on tolerance levels.

• Video links and additional resources reinforce learning.

• Students complete a macroinvertebrate identification quiz to assess knowledge.

Lesson 3: Analyzing Waterway Health with Biological Data

• Students determine taxa richness and assess water health based on collected macroinvertebrates.

• Instructions and a data collection link allow students to conduct a real-world water assessment.

• A Vernal Pools extension activity is included, allowing students to explore seasonal water bodies and their unique organisms.

Lesson 4: Water Quality Review Game & Assessment

• A 20-question quiz game helps reinforce key concepts from the unit.

• Built-in challenge questions provide opportunities for class discussion and application.

• Final assessments include crosswords, quizzes, and data analysis activities.

• Answer keys, materials lists, and video links are provided for teacher convenience.

Why Choose This Unit?

✅ Engaging & Interactive: Students participate in real-world data collection, hands-on labs, and games to make learning fun. ✅ Easy to Use & Editable: Materials are fully editable and can be used in Google Classroom or printed for traditional learning. ✅ Real-World Application: Emphasizes water conservation, environmental science, and fieldwork skills. ✅ Complete Teaching Package: Includes slideshow presentations, worksheets, quizzes, activities, video links, answer keys, and more.

This Water Quality and Macroinvertebrates Unit is a must-have resource for teachers covering Earth Science, Environmental Science, or Ecology. The combination of interactive lessons, hands-on activities, and real-world data collection makes this an engaging and effective way to teach water quality concepts.

Let your students explore, analyze, and assess water health in an interactive and memorable way!