Background
Waterways are vital ecosystems providing habitat to many native plants and animals. They are also an important part of human life providing water for residential use and irrigation of crops and livestock. However, human activities can impact the water quality of waterways. To determine the quality of a waterway, biological and chemical tests can be conducted. Biological tests involve sampling and identifying the macroinvertebrates. Chemical testing involves undertaking turbidity, pH, salinity and temperature tests.
Prior Knowledge
No prior knowledge necessary.
This is a stand-alone activity.
This program is designed for a school that has a local waterway they wish to study.
Key Learning Question
How can we test the health of a waterway?
Learning Intentions
In this program students will:
- Learn how to biologically assess the health of a waterway using macroinvertebrate sampling
- Learn how to assess the health of a waterway by measuring pH, temperature, conductivity and turbidity
Activities
Students will:
- Sample a local waterway
- Use stereo microscopes to view and identify macroinvertebrates in the sample to assess the health of the waterway
- Use various instruments to sample the temperature, pH, salinity and turbidity of the waterway to assess the health of the waterway
Victorian Curriculum
Science – Science as a human endeavour
- Scientific knowledge, skills and data can be used by individuals and communities to identify problems, consider responses and make decisions (VC2S6H02)
Science – Science understanding
- Habitats can be described by their physical conditions; changing the physical conditions of a habitat, including by human activity, may affect the growth and survival of organisms (VC2S6U01)
Science – Science inquiry
- Equipment can be used to observe, generate, measure and record data with reasonable precision for repeated measurements, using digital tools as appropriate (VC2S6I03)
- Methods and findings can be compared with those of others to identify sources of error, to select evidence in support of reasoned explanations and conclusions, and to develop further questions for investigation (VC2S6I05)