Project Title: What is Living in the Water?

Created by: DeAnn Kennedy Class: Science Project Description Students will go to Dimple Dell Regional Park and search for sites with water. They will mark waypoints, map and identify locations and take photographs of water being tested. A sample will be collected from each site and brought back to classroom for examination and analysis. Students will add Map Notes to map with pertinent information. Contact authorities when any dangerous information is detected.

Community Issue or Problem Selected -How project evolved? Community Partner(s)

Spoke with Brian Greene of Utah Water Watch and coordinated our science core with checking on the water for the Utah Water Watch. Brian Greene Program Coordinator for Utah Water Watch Phone: (435)797-2580 Email: brian.greene@usu.edu Student will be able to: Learn how to use GPS devices Mark waypoints Collect data Locate and mark map Identify and classify microorganisms found in water Science Benchmark Microorganisms are those living things that are visible as individual organisms only with the aid of magnification. Microorganisms are components of every ecosystem on Earth. Microorganisms range in complexity from single to multicellular organisms. Most microorganisms do not cause disease and many are beneficial. Microorganisms require food, water, air, ways to dispose of waste, and an environment in which they can live. Investigation of microorganisms is accomplished by observing organisms using direct observation with the aid of magnification, observation of colonies of these organisms and their waste, and observation of microorganisms effects on an environment and other organisms.

Project Objectives

Utah Core Standards/Objectives

5- Students will understand that microorganisms range from simple to complex, are found almost everywhere, and are both helpful and harmful. a. Examine and illustrate size, shape, and structure of organisms found in an environment such as pond water. b. Compare characteristics common in observed

organisms (e.g., color, movement, appendages, shape) and infer their function (e.g., green color found in organisms that are producers, appendages help movement). Essential Question(s) -Spatial Issue Where is water located in Dimple Dell Gully (ponds, streams, standing water)? What kind of microorganisms are located in and around the water observed? What is GIS data? How is it collected? How can we use this GIS data? What kind of data needs to be passed on to the Utah Water Watch? Each team: Completes data collection form on six or more water locations. Completes a CMaP with photos and descriptions on different layers. Pertinent data regarding hazards or problems will be reported to the Utah Water Watch Presentation on CMaP will be presented to class and all data combined to one map.

Assessments (rubrics, scoring guides)

Project Products

Project Timeline (include a step by step Procedures)

1. Introduction to GPS/Marking waypoints and clearing waypoints. 2. Instruction on measuring area 3. Instruction on protists and fungi, ie: appearance, habitat, food, plant like/animal like 4. Locating water sites in Dimple Dell Gully. 5. Collecting data in the field including collecting water samples to bring back. 6. Observing water samples under microscopes 7. Creating CMap (downloading photos and waypoints) 8. Presenting results to the rest of the class For each team: GPS units capped test tubes

Resources Needed

digital cameras(or ipads) clipboards

worksheet time with a computer Skills Required

pencil Microorganism Data Sheet

Using a GPS device Locating water sources Collecting water in test tube and labeling Using microscope to identify microorganisms Digital photography/downloading to Picassa Team work Garmin BaseCamp map layers creation on CMap

Project Team Member Roles

Teacher(s): Instruction on microorganism characteristics, microscope usage, Ed Tech Specialist: Instruct on GPS, data collection, downloading waypoints/digital photos Students:Collect water site information on their GPS and, Download all digital data and create Garmin BaseCamp map (http://cmap.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html) Partner(s): Utah Water Watch Brian Greene, Program Coordinator - Advise and guide in actions students should take in correlation to their goals.

Celebration/Presentation

Students present project maps and information gathered to the rest of the class and embed maps onto our class weebly page. Did students: Complete data collection on at least six water sites in the Dimple Dell Gully? Create comprehensive maps on CMap Share Information with Utah Water Watch Sixth Grade Science Core

Project Evaluation

Project Bibliography

Plans for Future CMaP Activities

This project could be done in one of many sites in the Salt Lake Valley and could be repeated in the same location up to nine times per year to check on changes according to the seasons. It could also be used to check on things like temperature and UV rays as they relate to the sixth grade science core of Heat Light and Sound.

Optional: -Lesson Plans -Student Artifacts -Publicity