This activity illustrates how water is stored in an aquifer, how groundwater can become contaminated, and how this contamination ends up in the drinking water well. They will also realize that many communities obtain their drinking water from underground sources called aquifers and that water suppliers or utility officials drill wells through soil and rock into aquifers to supply the public with drinking ... Full description.

This activity will help students to recognize that there is a lot of water in the world, but that not very much of it can be used for our drinking water and other water supply needs. They will see that ground water is a very small percentage of the Earth's water, and understand how important it is that we take care of our ground water. Full description.

This website teaches students about natural disasters, including blizzards, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes, fires, and avalanches. There are photographs of each disaster and safety tips as well as definitions of the disasters and information about where they are found. Full description.

In this experiment, students investigate the evaporation of water as part of a solution to a simulated mystery. They will compare rates of evaporation under different conditions, demonstrate knowledge of the concepts of evaporation, and be able to explain evaporation in the context of the water cycle. Full description.

This page explains the process by which oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, released by the combustion of fossil fuels, combine with water in the atmosphere to form acid rain. It points out that human activities are the primary cause of acid rain, that power plant and vehicle emissions are the primary sources of acid-producing compounds, and that acidity may be increased or neutralized by reactions in ... Full description.

This animated slide show explains the causes and effects of acid rain. The slides show how the combustion of fossil fuels causes airborne emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides, the mechanism by which they combine with water to form acids, and some of the effects on human health. A sequence of slides shows the process of acidification of a lake, with examples of healthy and damaged lakes. There are ... Full description.

This is a hands-on activity that fosters decision-making skills and emphasizes scientific principles such as objectivity and replication. It is designed to show that pollutants are not always obvious and not all contaminants pose a health risk. Students will learn that some contaminants can be detected by sight, smell, or taste and that others are not detectable except with sophisticated analytical ... Full description.

The Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane (DDT) Quest has students pretend to be hired as an environmental consulting firm, and present the case for or against the reintroduction of DDT to fight the (fictitious) South Ramford River Virus (SRRV). Arguments will focus on: the possible routes of exposure to DDT for people and wildlife in the County; the risks and effects of exposure to DDT for humans and ... Full description.

In this module, students pretend the County has hired their environmental consulting firm to prepare a report addressing: the probable causes of five incidents that appear to be the result of lead exposure; the extent of the potential lead problem in (fictitious) Ramford County; the possible routes and effects of exposure to lead for people and animals in the County; the risks of exposure to lead ... Full description.

"Pieces of Science" is an online gallery of sixteen educational resources related to a collection of historical science objects. These pages discuss the history of Ben Franklin and the lightning rod. There are references for additional information and links to lesson plans and student activities, both on and off-line. Full description.