In order to complete all the tests in one 50 minute class period, students in the three classes were divided up into expert groups where each group were to be responsible for certain tests. On September 21, each group presented their information to their peers while one student in the class submitted the data to this Project. The next day in the computer lab students accessed this web site to glean the information already submitted and then the compare the results.
Questions were posed which they had to analyze and then finished the activity by writing a several paragraph essay identifying the following the information:
School name, location, grade/subject area What was something new that you learned? What were some of the relationships between water quality and the physical surroundings of the water shed? What were some of the relationships between what is dissolved in the water and the surrounding ecosystem? What conclusions did they reach? What would you have done differently? Did our results agree with our hypothesis/
Below are some of the comments from the 11th and 12th graders of Shaker Heights High School CHEMCOM arranged by period:
1st period
We learned that a large amount of nitrates can cause excessive algae growth and leads to baby blue syndrome. Some of the things we learned about include the meaning of pH levels and which levels are acceptable for life. We learned that Doan Creek fluctuated between 17 to 18 degrees Celsius and that there are no fish native to the creek. We learned that if the oxygen levels are too low or too high that some fish cannot survive. The best oxygen levels for fish life are from 6.5 to 8.2. Some of the relationships between water quality and physical surroundings of the watershed wer if there were more trees surrounding the water then the temperature is lower. If we were to do this again we would test the dissolved oxygen before we tested the temperature, because the dissolved oxygen might be more accurate.
2nd period
I also learned that there is a relationship between water quality and the physical surroundings. This relationship exists because the physical surrounding can add to the water. I think that Doan Creek is not as healthy as it needs to be and there is probably much we can do to make it better, such as pick up the trash in and around the creek and just overall be carefule about all we do around that area which can affect the creek. The biggest conclusion that I made is that it had animals around it therefore you could tell things were in good enough shape for animals and plant life to survive. It(Doan Creek) was pretty clear and it seemed as though there was not that much pollution around the creek as I believe there would be because of the fact that it surrounded by two schools. The project turned out to be more interesting than I though it would be. I learned that there's a lot more to water than you would think. Water temperature is very important to organisms that occupy the water. Exposure to sunlight, and the temperature above the water can affect the temperature of water. If we ever did this experiment again I think we'd need to do everything carefully so that we get more accurate numbers. In this project I learned that it is very easy to do what real scientists do as far as sampling the water to see if it was good. I showed me a lot about the technology of how to use some of the materials--even as simple as a graphing calculator. To be totally honest I would be better prepared for lab because I was all confused and anxious to get it done. The relationship between what is dissolved in the water and what is in the ecosystem is that things that are around the water can change the qualities of the water and the wildlife living in the water. The conclusion I made is that the water system is very frail. If I could do something differently I would wait longer to let my materials settle. There was also a lot of trash around Doan Creek and this was littering the creek more and more trash will just flow into it unless we clean up our acts and stop littering. The conclusions that I reached were tht we have a very beautiful creek in our community of Shaker Heights and we need to kepp it clean. One relationship that I noticed was between the temperature and the dissolved oxygen level. I discovered that the higher the temperature the lower the dissolved oxygen level. Oxygen dissolved in water was necessary for water life to survive. I could have gotten better results by taken more accurate measurements. I was surprise by the temperature of the water. The new thing I actually learned was that we had a creek. Next time some investigating should be done on the plans for the creek so that nothing caused by man will affect the tests. If there are things dissolved in the watershed that are helpfule then the surrounding ecosystem will be happier. Next time I would go when they are not draining the nearby lakes so we could get a response that was more true.
6/7 period
We are not dependent on Doan creek for water(drinking) but we are dependent on Lake Erie for our water and if it is not clean it could cause serious problems for the surrounding areas. Next time I might have the people in my group work on different fields than just sticking with the same stuff. This will enable them to find out what they are capable of doing. I was pleased to find safe levels across the board. I believe this is true because there is no major industry running off the creek, and the city of Shaker Heights makes genuine attempts to monitor the safety levels of the surrounding water. If I could do this experiment over again I would probably run the water samples through a few more times, to make sure they were right. I might also get a few samples from different periods in the year to see how the results vary. I never though that what you did to the grass around the water affected the water. If there was a next time I would probably take my time and be neater. If there was next time I was going to do this experiment I would probably take more time writing down my information because I was rushing whe I was at the creek this time, and forgot to put a couple of things down. In this research I discovered that despite what some people may think, the water around Shaker Heights is in very good condition. This migh have been because there was no industry around, only schools and wildlife, so the water would have little to be contaminated by. The water was cold enough so that fish could survive in the water, however, none were sighted.
Teacher comments:
As you can tell by the number of comments in 2nd period it was the larger of the three classes and just getting all them down to the creek was an accomplishment in itself. The two smaller classes were easier to get organized and to keep control of so some of the results were better. It was also in this large class that panic erupted when one of the calculators was dropped in the creek which by this time was rushing through pretty quickly.
Also, the Green lake which is one of the lakes supplying Doan creek's water was beginning to be dredged on this day. Therefore, the creek was flowing normally for first period until 5 minutes before it was time to leave and suddenly water come gushing through. So much water had entered that within five minutes the water level increase 5 centimeters. By the time 2nd period arrived the water level rose another 10 centimeters. Once 6/7 period arrive the water level was equal to the cement embankment surrounding the creek and what we stood upon while test were taken. If time permits, I will try to submit pictures of Doan Creek and Green lake before and after for a visual respresentation.
Also, this was the first project where students used the calculator based laboratory and where what they did in groups actually matter. Students often think working in groups means that one or two people do all the work and the other just agree. This was project quickly showed them that this type of thinking was erroneous and better preparation leads to better measurements and results. Laboratory preparation has gradually increased in quality since this experience which from my perspective is wonderful.
Also, it is wonderful to see students to begin to think about their surroundings and realize that they are just a spoke in a larger wheel rather than the entire wheel.
I was the first chemcom teacher to perform this lab and the other teachers will most likely post a message expressing their final reports for their classes. Mrs. Miller classes, 3 total, performed the experiment about 2 weeks after I did, and Mrs. Nackely just completed the project a week ago Friday. This should provide a nice comparisions over time for the water quality. Yet no matter which class you look at, Green Lake has yet to be refilled.
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