Pesticides are chemicals used in agriculture to protect crops from insects and other pests.
Although progress seems to have been made in pest control, the quality of human health is on the decline, and children especially may be at risk. Our children, more importantly, need to be made aware of the potential health hazards their food may have. This unit is written with fourth and fifth graders in mind and will allow them to discover and identify common chemical pesticides used on food. They will also learn how these manmade substances disturb the natural environment. By the end of this unit, students will be able to identify some of the sprays that have been found on fruits and vegetables and measure the water quality in their community.