College students apply the scientific technique to find out what’s inflicting algae progress in a pond. This exercise works with introductory classes on the character of science and easy methods to conduct experiments.

On this exercise, college students study knowledge from two ponds. One pond is close to a farm and the opposite is in a forest space. Knowledge consists of temperature and ranges of phosphorous, nitrogen, and chlorophyll. Phosphorous and nitrogen are generally present in fertilizers. The farm pond has a lot larger ranges of those compounds than the forest pond.

The extent of chlorophyll is an indicator for algae progress. The pond close to the farm has a lot larger ranges of chlorophyll. Be aware, the info exhibits models as µg / L, so you might need to clarify what these models imply (micrograms per liter). Knowledge additionally exhibits water temperature, but it surely has little impact on algae progress, although college students might observe that the forest pond is cooler than the farm pond.

Laboratory Knowledge

On the following web page, college students write a speculation that explains the algae progress. A set of photographs illustrates an experiment that assessments this speculation. Pictures present two aquariums with fish and vegetation. Phosphorous and nitrogen are added to the experimental tank. The management tank doesn’t have these compounds.

After thirty days, the experimental tank seems inexperienced as a result of algae progress and the management tank continues to be blue. The pictures are in coloration, so this exercise may fit finest if assigned on Google classroom. The print model will present the inexperienced tank as a darker coloration. Each have quantitative knowledge on chlorophyll ranges for every tank.

College students then reply questions in regards to the unbiased and dependent variables. They describe the variations between the management and experimental tank. Lastly, they write a conclusion about what’s inflicting the algae progress within the ponds. For instance, fertilizer from the farm is flowing into the pond and inflicting algae progress.

Extension

Once we get to the chapter on local weather, my college students additionally study knowledge on dangerous algae blooms: Investigating Algae Blooms and Dinoflagellates. This examine examines actual knowledge from water sources throughout states to find out the place algae blooms are concentrated.

I even have a set of algae slides that college students can study as soon as they learn to use microscopes within the subsequent unit. My favourite algae slides are euglena, spirogyra, and volvox. College students additionally study stay aquarium vegetation with a microscope.