Pollution solutions

objectives:

Students will understand the following:

1. The threat to water ecosystems is a complex problem because many factors contribute to their pollution and destruction.
2. The following factors all play major roles in the pollution and destruction of water ecosystems: PCBs, DDT, metylmercury chloride, sewer sludge, thermal effluents, radioactive wastes, destruction of marshlands, and beach erosion.
3. Methods to combat the above factors exist.
4. More methods are being developed and need to be developed.


Equipments :


For this lesson, you will need:
• Research materials about water ecosystems and factors that contribute to their pollution or destruction
• Computer with Internet access

Procedures :


1. Ask students to name some water ecosystems. (They might mention oceans, rivers, ponds, lakes, marshlands.)
2. Now ask them to mention any factors they know of that contribute to the pollution and destruction of water ecosystems. List their suggestions on the chalkboard, including the following: PCBs, DDT, metylmercury chloride, sewer sludge, thermal effluents, radioactive wastes, destruction of marshlands, and beach erosion.
3. Divide your class into groups, and have each group research one of the factors you have listed. Groups should focus their research on how their factor affects water ecosystems, particularly those in your area, if applicable, and the methods that are being employed to counter it.
4. When their research is complete, each group should choose one water ecosystem that has been affected by the factor they have been assigned and prepare an environmental-impact statement about it. Each statement should include four elements:
a description of the current environmental status of the ecosystem
a description of the way or ways in which the factor affects the ecosystem
a description of the existing methods that are being used to combat the factor
suggestions for future methods of combating the factor

5. When the statements are complete, invite groups to share their findings with the class.