Information cards Background information on the individual tests are included in the Waterwatch Australia Technical Manual and can be photocopied onto coloured card and laminated. At least two sets of the cards will be required for a class. Some local councils will lend water quality test kits to interested groups. Collecting information Measuring Interpreting data Analysing Inferring from data Making links Making comparisons Students reflect on the investigation they are about to conduct. The group will also need to take notes describing the human impacts that are visible adjacent to the sampling site.
Students analyse their sample and record the data in a table.
If sampling is to occur over a number of weeks, groups could take turns to perform a particular test. Data from the whole class could then be collated. Students complete the retrieval table in Resource Sheet 9 from the information cards, which give background information on each of the tests. Guided by the teacher, students discuss the significance of their test results and draw conclusions about the effect that human impacts may have on the water quality at their sites. Individually, students write a short report tabulating their data, graphing their results and explaining their conclusions.