Water Quality Newscast

Time: Two or three 50-minute class periods

Source: Teacher Developed

Students prepare and film (if possible) a "newscast" reporting the results of their water quality study to inform the public of their findings.

Procedures

1. Student groups share their data from the water quality study with the whole class. Discuss any discrepancies and identify variables that may account for the discrepancies.

2. If any levels are outside of acceptable ranges, refer back to watershed maps created in Pre-Visit Activity 2. Have students identify possible sources of the negative impact (runoff from parking lots, fertilizers from yards or farms, etc.).

3. Groups prepare a news broadcast for campus television station, with student jobs including writers, producers, directors, anchors, editors, visual artists, and camera persons.

Modification: Filming the newscast may be an option if equipment is available. Otherwise, present in teams to the class.

TEKS: 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.6
TAKS Objectives: 1 and 2