Public Works and Environmental Services Alert:
The Terrarium is a model of the water cycle. Teachers will receive student worksheets with all the materials needed to construct this simple, take-home terrarium. Students will observe the water cycle in action with evaporation, condensation and precipitation.
Standards are:
The Drinking, Wastewater and Stormwater EnviroScape is a large, hands-on model of how water moves throughout the environment. This illustrates how pollution can occur, how we can prevent it, and take care of our waterways. EnviroScape model and student worksheets will be provided.
Standards are:
The Micros are Everywhere activity introduces students to the microscope and the importance of microorganisms in our environment. Students will learn how microorganisms help clean wastewater. Microscopes CAN be provided; however, they are limited in number and students will need to share. Slides and worksheets will be provided. Standards are:
Science Standards aligned:
Math Standards aligned:
What is pH and why do I care? Is an activity that introduces students to pH and the importance that it plays in our waterways. Teachers will be provided containers of liquids found around the home (milk, soda, vinegar, lemon juice, etc.) and pH strips. The worksheets provided will take students through pH testing and the importance of keeping the pH at a safe level for aquatic life in the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.
Standards are:
Turbidity is a measure of the clarity or cloudiness of water. This simple and fun technique to test turbidity uses a small secchi disk to measure the water transparency which can be a good indicator of water pollution. Teachers will have liquids or solutions with different clarities to test. Beakers, worksheets and secchi dishes will be provided.
Standards are:
This program teaches middle school students the basics of Wastewater Treatment and management. Students will learn how to perform tests for pH, ammonia, and turbidity at each stage of the treatment processes. There is an introduction to microscopes with a focus on identifying microorganisms and why they are important to help clean the water. Students learn how to become better stewards of our environment.
VA SOL standards include but are not limited to: 6.5 fg, 6.6 abef, 6.8abcd, 6.9 abcdef, LS 7ab, LS 8c LS 9bc, PS 3ad
Students will learn how to become better stewards of our environment and explore environmental career options while participating in any of the three high school labs that are customized to scaffold 9-12 grade curriculums. Options include programs designed for; ELL (English Language Learner) classes, Earth Science, Biology, Environmental Science or Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate, IB classes. The lab provides the opportunity to discuss the “Do Not Flush” materials that can cause sewer backups and blockages in the more than 3,400 miles of sanitary sewer lines located in Fairfax County. At the end of the lab, students will have gained an appreciation for how wastewater treatment plants work to protect, restore, and enhance human health and the environment.
This hands-on lab has been created with three different levels of difficulty, and as such, testing and analysis correlate with student understanding. With the help of Wastewater Management Outreach Group you will be able to select the lab that meets your needs.
Maureen Goble, Lake Braddock High School Science Dept. Chair, describes Sewer Science Lab.
Check out the Fairfax County Wastewater Management Video.
VA SOL standards include but are not limited to: ES. 6acd, ES. 8cd, ES. 10 ae, ES 12e, BIO. 2ac, BIO. 4d, BIO. 8abd