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9th Grade: Environmental

Science Rivers Project

2008

Outcomes

1. Conduct assessments to evaluate sustainability of the Chicago River ecosystem.
2. Investigate human environmental impact on the Chicago River ecosystem.
3. Describe how human actions affect sustainability and the environmental impact of development.
4. Student is able to collect, organize, and analyze data accurately and precisely.
5. Student is able to display data gathered in laboratory exercise in a variety of formats (table, line graphs, pie charts, bar graphs.)
6. Identify renewable and nonrenewable resources and weigh the advantages/disadvantages of using each type.

Overview

The 9th grade Environmental Science classes will be presenting findings from their research, from observations made at the Chicago River, and observations in their neighborhoods.  Their goal is to determine if the Chicago River ecosystem is a healthy environment.  Also, they are trying to determine if their neighborhoods have any impact on the Chicago River. The students chose from the following topics and developed a research topic:

Pollution and Our Food
Litter and Impact on Wildlife
Combined Sewer Overflow
Invasive Species
5. The Deep Tunnel Project

In preparation to present, the students did background research about their topic.  Then, they went to the river and analyzed the river by assessing the habitat, cataloging litter, and determining the sources of pollutants.  Then, students returned to their neighborhoods to collect data about pollutants that could impact the river.  Finally, students applied the research data to make connections and draw conclusions.  This research was synthesized in a paper. 

Suggested Questions

1. How does the data you collected relate to what you’ve learned in your study of how people interact with the environment?
2. How did a graph(s) help to represent your data?
3. Why do people not take the health of the Chicago River seriously?
4. How do you impact the river either positively or negatively?
5. What was the relationship between the wildlife seen in and around the river and signs of human impact?
6. If you were to give advice to students performing this activity next year, what would you recommend?

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