Pollution - What is it doing to us?

Dalila M. Johnson                Charles Sumner Academy
                                 4320 W. Fifth Ave.
                                 Chicago IL 60624
                                 (312) 534-6730 or 6991

Objectives: 

1. Students will recognize some forms of pollution.
2. Students will recognize and understand some of the devastating effects of the 
   acid rains and other possible factors that are contrary to the pH balance of 
   nature. 
3. Students will learn that it does affect our water supply.
   a. our drinking water
   b. life that lives in the waters
4. Students will begin to understand how it is possibly affecting our diet and 
   unfortunately our health. 
5. Students will then be able to understand and appreciate some of the grave 
   concerns and issues and the need for environmental control. 
6. And students will want to appreciate their environment and this great planet 
   earth upon which we live more. 

Materials Needed:

1. visual aids - models of      2. soil                3. household chemicals
     sun                           clay                   hair spray 
     ozone layers                  water                  nail polish remover
     earth                         rocks                  bleach 
     vehicles                      wood chips             perm              
   poster boards                   plastic cups           baking soda
   noise device                    plastic                motor oil

Strategy:                    

a.  Experiment will start with myself wearing many protective devices.  I will 
    be wearing a hard hat, safety goggles, ears plugs, gloves, boots, face mask,
    etc.  Students will undoubtedly want an explanation.  We then will review
    and discuss what we've learned from our previous lessons.  Then students
    will begin to answer their own curiosity.  They will tell me why I may be
    wearing different devices.  They will want to identify each device probably
    with some form of pollution.  Now they will feel familiar and confident.      

b.  We will examine the models of the sun, ozone layers, and the earth.  We will 
    discuss how the sun helps us and how it could possibly harm us with its
    powerful ray.  Students will learn that the ozone layers are like sunglasses
    for the earth, a very valuable pair that cannot be replaced.

c.  Students will be encouraged to examine different factors that are 
    unfortunately contributing to acid rain.  Ex. vehicles, factories, household 
    items, etc.

d.  We will spray some of the chemicals on the model of the ozone layers which 
    will be made of tissue paper to signify its fragileness.  Students can 
    discuss in brief the danger involved with the damaged layers.  Ex. skin 
    cancer, eyes.

e.  In a transparent plastic cup each group will build several layers of the 
    earth from sand, soil, clay and rocks.  They will each have four cups of 
    water.  Now they will do several tests with the water.  Each is to be mixed 
    with  a household chemical.  Using pH strips They will test the water with 
    the chemicals and again after they've poured it through the earth's layers. 
    These tests will help students determine how pollution is affecting our 
    water supply and the soil that grows our food. 

*  They will understand our survival is at risk.

*  Enforcement and Enrichment

   a. English - write letters to Environmental Protection, aldermen, senators,
                representatives, and the president of the United State expressing 
                appreciation or concerns                                      

   b. Fine Arts - create a poem or song

   c. Science - create posters with a message