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Lesson Plan: A Comparative Study of Surface Water Quality with Dietary Connections (Grades 9-12)

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by Jeanne Yacoubou, MS
© The Vegetarian Resource Group

Purpose: To evaluate surface water quality of samples collected from a recreational use area and those from areas used for farming or animal-based agriculture. Samples will be compared over the period of one day, one week, or one year, as time and resources permit. Possible parameters to be examined:

  • pH
  • temperature
  • turbidity
  • nitrate concentration
  • phosphate concentration
  • fecal contamination
  • antibiotic contamination
  • dissolved oxygen (DO)
  • biological oxygen demand (BOD)

Objectives: As a result of this investigation, students will be able to:

  • identify multiple measures of water quality;
  • collect environmental water samples and assess their composition and quality;
  • display and interpret data in tabular and graphical forms;
  • apply computational, analytical, and scientific reasoning skills to make comparisons and contrasts concerning water quality;
  • propose ways to mitigate human-influenced negative effects on water quality.

Lesson Background:

Teachers may look at the United Nations’ 2006 report titled Livestock’s Long Shadow available at http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.htm. Chapter IV deals with water pollution due to animal agriculture. Both national and global issues are discussed. The major conclusion of this Report is that livestock production is a leading source of environmental damage including climate change; water and air pollution; land degradation; and loss of biodiversity. The Report suggests that a human diet that is plant-based would prevent much of the environmental damage caused by animal agriculture, including the feedcrop production associated with it.

Click here to see this entire lesson plan.

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