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Spring 1995 |
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Youngsters learn water ecology first handScience program includes pirate cruiseWhy choose Hach test kits?Getting the right answer |
Innovative program includes Yellowstone testingWhen John Kunkel takes 50 fourth grade students to Yellowstone National Park this spring to perform stream analysis, he'll pack along Hach test kits. Ecology field trips into the park are an annual feature in the Greybull, Wyoming, elementary school science curriculum. Kunkel, slated to receive the 1994 Wyoming Elementary Science Teacher of the Year award in Washington, D.C., in April, developed a program that stresses science as a service to the community and the nation. "We structure our activities around gathering information we can share with local ranchers for land use studies," he says. "And all our Yellowstone testing data goes to the park research department." A nationally acclaimed science teacher has developed an innovative water quality testing program to teach fourth-grade students basic science skills--formulating hypotheses, gathering data, comparing and contrasting results and making recommendations--plus contribute to the community's quality of life.Greybull's science program is a true partnership between school, community and local businesses. "The district received funding from innovative education grants, corporate sponsors and the Department of Education to establish the STAR (Success Through Area Resources) Lab. It's a 20-acre environmental laboratory about three miles from town that has grasslands, desert and riparian ecosystems. We practice running our water quality tests at the STAR Lab's creek before we go into the park. It's a terrific complement to our classroom program." Water quality testing is in its tenth year at Greybull Elementary, and Kunkel acknowledges that working with fourth graders provides its own challenges. "These students are working with very basic skills," he says, "so I do a lot of hand-holding at first. We start out with canned projects in the classroom to get them comfortable with the testing apparatus, the procedure and each other. We test tap water with known concentrations of vinegar and lemon juice, and then move on to natural bodies of water." "After they've mastered using the kits, I turn them loose and the outcomes are impressive," he continues. "They learn to create a rationale and hypothesis and test it out. While they're too young to understand all the intracacies, they do learn about test results, data collection and analyzing trends. And those are the basic science skills they'll need in any field study." At Yellowstone's Slough Creek, students will test for dissolved oxygen, hydrogen sulfide and sulfates and study the microinvertebrate populations for four days. The Yellowstone trip is the culmination of year-long studies that include life and physical sciences. "We tie it all together--science, history, art, English--during the spring field trip. We're very gratified that the Park Service renews our research permit every year." What's Kunkel's advice to other teachers? "Don't be scared off from doing these analytical exercises because you're not a chemist. Anyone who reads can use these test kits. They're powerful teaching tools. And," he adds, "the kids know they're doing real science."
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Return to topInnovative program includes Yellowstone testing
Science program includes pirate cruiseWhy choose Hach test kits?Getting the right answer |
Youngsters learn water ecology first handUrban growth is a fact of life in Ontario, Canada. The population has swelled to more than 10 million residents, with most of it concen-trated in the southern regions. Despite Ontario’s wealth of majestic forests, spectacular lakes and untamed rivers, many children never experience nature outside the confines of their own backyards. An innovative program, Waterways Habitat, sponsored by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH), aims to change all that. According to Dr. Terry Quinney, OFAH provincial coordinator of fish and wildlife services, Waterways Habitat seeks to give kids between the ages of 8 and 14 a quality outdoor education. “Fishing and hunting are a significant part of our history and culture. And waterways are critical to the wildlife habitat and the life of our province. If children don’t experience natural resources first-hand, how can they be expected toappreciate and protect them when they’re adults?” A floating classroom travels throughout a Canadian province during summer months to give almost 3000 children an unforgettable lesson in water ecology and conservation.The summer program, with a crew of three university students majoring in science or ecology, traveled to 40 provincial parks, summer camps, fishing tournaments and resorts throughout Ontario. During each three-hour session, up to 45 students learn how aquatic environments can be improved and fishery resources conserved. "The first rule is to keep it fun," says coordinator Shawn Good. "The second is to make learning hands-on. We believe kids learn twice as much by doing as by seeing," he says. Each session starts with a 40-minute slide presentation, a brief orientation course to show the youngsters what they should be looking for in lakes. In addition to identifying the varieties of native fish, kids are introduced to unseen creatures, like the zooplankton and phytoplankton fish rely on for food. Then stressors to the aquatic environment, like human activity and waste from septic tanks leaching into waterways, are discussed. Finally, the tragic consequences of invading species--zebra mussels, spiny water fleas and others--are explained. After the slide show, participants are divided into smaller groups for outdoor activities. While one group watches, Good drags a seine net close to shoreline, revealing a wide variety of plant and fish life. Children take minnows, dragonfly larvae and sunfish from the net and identify them before releasing them back into the water. The other group moves to a 30-foot pontoon boat for some water chemistry experiments, safety and ethics guidelines, and instruction in live release and angling techniques. With analytical systems supplied by Fryston Canada Inc., Hach's official Ontario distributor, youngsters experienced hands-on science. "We have several interactive work stations on the boat with test kits for measuring dissolved oxygen levels, carbon dioxide and pH. The kids learn how to sample, run the tests and learn how fragile the aquatic habitat is," says Quinney. Then everyone gets fishing equipment and the chance to reel in a fish. According to Good, this is the high point of the program. "Outdoors, youngsters get to apply what they've learned during the slide show and discussions. They can touch and feel what comes out of the water. Their enthusiasm is unmatched." Waterways Habitat receives additional support from the Environmental Youth Corps, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and many corporate sponsors. According to OFAH, response from youngsters, parents, camp directors and others was so positive that plans are being made to finalize a classroom version that can be delivered year-round. In Ontario, you can reach Fryston Canada Inc. by calling 905-612-0566. In the United States, call Hach Company at 800-227-4224.
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Return to topInnovative program includes Yellowstone testingYoungsters learn water ecology first hand
Why choose Hach test kits?Getting the right answer |
Science program includes pirate cruiseStudents and teachers living in central Florida have a unique venue when it comes to performing hands-on water quality testing. It's the Sea Pirate, a 47-foot, double-decker catamaran river cruiser equipped with test kits for monitoring salinity, temperature, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, dissolved oxygen and pH. During the course of a three-hour cruise on the Indian River Lagoon, students acquire knowledge in water chemistry, collect data for a citizen's monitoring program, and identify estuarine habitats, marine plants and animals. The Sea Pirate Tour is just a small part of an environmental education program sponsored by Brevard Community College (BCC), based in Palm Bay. According to Director Brenda Maxwell, "About 2 1/2 years ago, BCC set a goal to get kindergarten through 12th grade students more involved in hands-on science. A small pilot project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) enabled us to bring water quality monitoring to a middle school classroom, where students tested the water condition of the Indian River Lagoon from a source point in their school yard. The Florida Science Institute (FSI) is making a significant impact on Florida's science education in public schools with an innovative program integrating science, math, the arts and computer technology."The project was successful, so we applied for more funds to expand our water monitoring program. As a result of this three-year program, we received $580,000 from the Department of Education, the Indian River National Estuary Program, the Technological Research and Development Authority, NSF, and the East Central Florida Regional Environmental Education Service Project and formed the Brevard Environmental Institute (later changed to Florida Science Institute or FSI). FSI coordinates the Sea Pirate program, offers teacher training workshops and manages a citizen's monitoring program. Because our program is so highly regarded, the Southwest Water Management District is providing funds to FSI to administer storm water monitoring programs in their districts,"she states. Every year, FSI trains more than 100 teachers reaching more than 20,000 children who learn about environmental problem-solving. "Through hands-on, mind-on activities, our curriculum uses water quality monitoring as the vehicle to integrate biology, chemistry, marine science, ecology, social science, computer science and language arts," says Maxwell. "For example, we have a newsletter called Network; an electronic bulletin board system called BEN, and we are producing environmental documentaries. After learning how to use BEN, students can retrieve and send data, conduct research, view/send photos and reports submitted by other students and administrators from around central Florida. It's all part of our goal to go statewide and impact science education in significant ways,"she continues. One lesson plan prepared for teachers who participate in FSI training involves water quality monitoring and quality control. Using Hach standards and test kits for ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and sulfate, students learn how to prove the validity of data while analyzing a surface water source for sewage pollution and bacteria contamination. "We evaluated Hach test kits at the onset of the FSI program," says Maxwell, "and we found them to be very reliable and very user friendly." In a recent Network article, the call went out to teachers and students to adopt a canal or other water site near their school for weekly monitoring. FSI helps groups get started by supplying the know-how and even testing equipment. According to the article, one purpose of this project is to get the whole community involved in local environmental concerns. To quote the BCC motto, "Educating our community...to expand our minds is to expand our possibilities." The possibilities in central Florida look boundless. FSI would like to network with other educational communities throughout the United States. To find out more about them and their "Environmental Problem-Solving through Water Quality Monitoring" curriculum, call Maxwell at 407-951-1060 x2051.
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Return to topInnovative program includes Yellowstone testingYoungsters learn water ecology first handScience program includes pirate cruise
Getting the right answer |
Why choose Hach test kits?Economical, durable and safe....that's every Hach test kit. Whether you're new to water quality testing, or an old-timer, you'll find that our test kits help ensure your students' success in laboratory and field exercises. Our kits are reliable and accurate, time after time.
See the reply card to find out how you can receive information about products configured especially for educators.
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Return to topInnovative program includes Yellowstone testingYoungsters learn water ecology first handScience program includes pirate cruiseWhy choose Hach test kits?
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Getting the right answerBy Jim Schuth To find out if your answer to a math problem is correct, you just get out the calculator and key in the numbers. Voila! Check your answer against the readout and you know if your figuring yielded the right answer. To find out if your answer to a history question is accurate, just pull out the encyclopedia and check your facts. But when it comes to water quality analysis, how do know your answer is correct? Even when you're using a digital instrument, how can you confirm that your results are accurate? Read on--it's much easier than you may imagine. When you're performing water testing, four factors can prevent you from getting the correct answer. The first is inappropriate technique. The second is interference while the third is instrument malfunction. The last factor is aged, expired reagents. Through the use of a technique called standard addition, or spiking, you can test the above areas for error and correct them. An interference is anything (such as some ion or compound within the sample) that reveals itself during testing and affects the results. It may react with the indicator reagents before the analyte of interest (the parameter you're testing for) can. Or it may block the analyte from reacting with the indicator. An interference can impact the reaction by increasing or decreasing the results. An effective way to discover the presence of interferences is to spike the sample. Here's how standard addition works. First, collect your materials. You'll need a standard (available from Hach) of the analyte you're detecting; a TenSette®Pipet and tip or a similiar device that can deliver minute quantities of liquid accurately; a sample cell; and an analytical measuring device. I will assume you are working with an electronic instrument, like a colorimeter or spectrophotometer. If you are using visual comparators like color cubes or color wheels, the procedure is the same except that you may accept a greater variation in your standard addition result and you will not have to consider any possible problems with the electronics of your instrument. To start, measure out a volume of the sample you wish to analyze. Perform the test according to the instructions. Record the results. Now let's spike the sample with the standard. Take a standard of a known concentration and decide how much you want to add to the sample. Pipet that volume directly into your reacted sample cell. You should notice an increase in the color intensity of the sample. Calculate the recovery of the standard as follows:
For example, let's say you are testing for iron with a DR/2000 Spectrophotometer. You collect a 25-mL sample, add reagent and insert it into the spectrophotometer. The instrument gives you an answer of 1.2 mg/L. Now you're going to check it using the standard additions technique. Select an iron standard of 50 mg/L iron. You elect to pipet 0.5 mL of that standard into your reacted sample. Using the recovery formula identified above, you get:
Now insert that same sample back into the DR/2000 and take a reading. Your result should be 2.18 mg/L iron, an increase of 0.98 mg/L. If your answer is not within about 5% of that number, then some-thing is wrong. Most often, the trouble lies in the laboratory technique--measuring the sample or pipetting accurately. Or an interference could be the problem. Redo the entire test, making sure that you do everything as perfectly as possible. If the answer after the standard addition still doesn't produce the expected result, try diluting the sample and running it again. Dilution can sometimes solve the interference problem. If dilution doesn't produce the desired result, you may have to consider the age of your reagents. This standard addition technique works only for tests that use one reagent. If you are running a test that instructs you to add more than one reagent (either powder or liquid) then the standard addition method will change. To find out more about accuracy checks, refer to the Water Analysis Handbook, available free from Hach. Or call 800-227-4224 and get immediate assistance from a technical support specialist. Editor's note: Jim Schuth, instructor at the Hach Technical Training Center, demonstrates environmental testing during the free, three-day Science Educator's Workshops held during the summer. Click here for dates and registration information.
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This page was last updated 08/16/06 |
