Stormwater Investigation
There has been a large fish kill in Lake George! Students will become “Water Quality Investigators” to
determine what has caused the fish to turn belly up in the Lake. First, we’ll discuss the different areas
of water pollution and the pathways of stormwater run-off. Then students will learn and use different
water testing techniques to test a sample of “Lake” water to find the Lake’s pollution source.
Objectives:
1) To distinguish different water pollution sources.
Program Type: PowerPoint and small
group activity
Subject: Science
2) To determine the source of the pollution in the Lake using
different water quality tests.
Grade: 5th-8th
Goals of the Program:
Length: One hour, approximately
1) To exercise student’s data collection skills and the scientific method to get hands-on experience
in the process of water quality testing and pollution sourcing.
Terms: Watershed; Stormwater Run-off; Point Source Pollution; Non-point Source Pollution; Pesticides,
Fertilizer, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, pH
Correlations to NYS Intermediate Core Curriculum Standards
STANDARD 1 : Analysis, Inquiry, and Design– Scientific Inquiry
Key Idea 1: The central purpose of scientific inquiry is to develop explanations of natural phenomena in a continuing, process
Key Idea 2: Beyond the use of reasoning and consensus, scientific inquiry involves the testing of proposed explanations involving
the use of conventional techniques and procedures, and usually requiring considerable ingenuity.
Key Idea 3: The observations made while testing proposed explanations, when analyzed using conventional and invented
methods, provide new insights into phenomena
STANDARD 1 : Analysis, Inquiry,and Design– Engineering Design
Key Idea 1: Engineering design is an iterative process involving modeling and optimization (finding
the best solution within given constraints); this process is used to develop technological
solutions to problems within given constraints.
STANDARD 4: The physical setting
Key Idea 2: Many of the phenomena that we observe on Earth involve interactions among components of air, water, and land.
STANDARD 4: The living environment
Key Idea 7: Human decisions and activities have had a profound impact on the physical and living environments.
STANDARD 6: Interconnectedness
Key Idea 1: Through systems thinking, people can recognize the commonalities that exist among all systems and how parts of a
system interrelate and combine to perform specific functions.
Key Idea 2: Models are simplified representations of objects, structures, or systems used in analysis, explanation, interpretation,
or design.
Key Idea 3: The grouping of magnitudes of size, time, frequency, and pressures or other units of
measurement into a series of relative order provides a useful way to deal with the immense range and the changes in scale that
affect the behavior and design of systems.
To schedule this program or if you have any questions please contact LGA Educator
Jill Trunko at [email protected] or by phone at 518-668-3558.
Please visit www.LakeGeorgeAssociation.org for more information on in –school
programs and field trips offered by the Lake George Association.
Lake George Association is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to protecting, conserving and improving the beauty
and quality of Lake George.