Nutrient pollution
These two practical activities help students to understand how nutrients are washed off the land and into water systems. They also investigate the effects of nutrients in aquatic ecosystems.
Point source contamination
In this video, educator Angela Schipper demonstrates how to build an aquifer model and simulate a point source contamination of the groundwater. This is an excellent activity that needs only a few easy to organise resources.
Point source contaminations include pollutants that occupy relatively small areas that can be identified and that often have a concentrated output, like a landfill, for example.
Points of interest: Teachers may want to discuss with their students the effects of point source pollution.
Nature of science
Scientists make use of models to test predictions. Models allow scientists to test a range of scenarios without potentially harming the environment.
By the end of these activities, students should be able to:
explain how pollutants are dissolved and/or carried into groundwater and surface water
discuss how polluted groundwater may lead to polluted lakes or rivers
explain some of the possible impacts on water ecosystems of agricultural nutrient run-off and leaching.
Non-point source contamination
In this video, educator Angela Schipper demonstrates how to build an aquifer model and simulate a non-point source contamination of the groundwater. This is an excellent activity that needs only a few easy to organise resources.
Non-point source contamination means that pollutants enter the ground in an area that is not well defined. Sources of pollutants can include surface run-off of water or include pesticides that have been used for farming purposes and are carried with the water entering the ground to eventually enter streams and lakes.
Points of interest: Teachers may want to discuss with their students the effects of non-point source pollution.
Nature of science
Scientists make use of models to test predictions. Models allow scientists to test a range of scenarios without potentially harming the environment.
Download the word file for:
introduction/background
what you need
what to do.
