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ILSA

The document outlines an educational experiment for Grade 10 students to investigate the impact of plastic waste on local waterways, focusing on water quality and aquatic life. Students will measure pH, clarity, and observe aquatic organisms in water samples from sites with and without plastic waste. The experiment aims to raise awareness of plastic pollution and encourage students to propose solutions for reducing plastic waste in their communities.

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Key Paynandos
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12 views3 pages

ILSA

The document outlines an educational experiment for Grade 10 students to investigate the impact of plastic waste on local waterways, focusing on water quality and aquatic life. Students will measure pH, clarity, and observe aquatic organisms in water samples from sites with and without plastic waste. The experiment aims to raise awareness of plastic pollution and encourage students to propose solutions for reducing plastic waste in their communities.

Uploaded by

Key Paynandos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Investigating the Impact of Plastic Waste on Local

Waterways

Plastic pollution is a growing issue that affects waterways globally and locally. In many regions,
rivers, lakes, and coastal areas are increasingly polluted by plastics, which threaten aquatic life,
water quality, and biodiversity. This issue is highly relevant for Grade 10 students, as they can relate
to local environmental concerns and contribute to solutions.

Objective:
Students will design and carry out an experiment to assess the effect of plastic waste on water
quality and aquatic organisms in local waterways. They will analyze the impact on pH, clarity, and
the health of aquatic life (e.g., fish, insects, or microorganisms).

1. Investigative Question:
a. How does the presence of plastic waste in local waterways affect water quality and
aquatic life?

2. Hypothesis:
Before starting the experiment, predict how plastic waste might affect the water quality in a local
waterway. For example:
"I think the water with plastic waste will have a lower pH and be less clear than the water without
plastic."

3. Materials Required:
 Plastic waste (plastic bottles, bags, etc.)
 pH testing kit
 Turbidity meter (or clear jar for turbidity test)
 Water samples from a local waterway
 Gloves
 Magnifying glass or microscope to observe organisms
 Notebook and pen for data recording
 Camera to document observations

4. Procedure:
Step 1:Collect water samples from two locations: one with visible plastic waste and one without.
Step 2: Measure the water's pH and clarity at both sites using the pH kit and turbidity meter.
Step 3: Introduce a set amount of plastic waste to the experimental water site (e.g., 5 plastic bottles).
Step 4: Observe and record changes in water clarity, pH levels, and behavior of aquatic organisms
over a week.
Step 5: Compare results from the experimental and control sites.

5. Variables:
 Independent Variable:Presence of plastic waste in the water.
 Dependent Variables:Water clarity (turbidity), pH level, and health of aquatic organisms.
 Control Variables: Same type of water (from the same waterway), same type of organisms,
same amount of water, same temperature, etc.

6. Data Collection:
Record your observations daily. Include:
 Water clarity (measured using the turbidity meter or by visual assessment).
 pH level (record the pH value using the testing kit).
 Any noticeable changes in aquatic organisms (e.g., movement, health, behavior).
 Use a table to organize this data clearly.

7. Analysis:
1 Analyze the changes in the water's pH, clarity, and organism behavior.
2 Compare the water with plastic waste (experimental site) to the water without plastic
waste (control site).
3 How did the presence of plastic waste impact the water? Were there noticeable changes in
the aquatic organisms?

8. Conclusion:
Based on your data, draw conclusions about how plastic waste affects the water quality and the
health of aquatic organisms in the waterway. Write a summary that answers the investigative
question.
For example:

"The water with plastic waste had lower clarity and a more acidic pH compared to the control water.
The organisms in this water showed signs of distress."

9. Reflection:
What did you learn from this experiment about the relationship between pollution and water quality?
How could this experiment be improved?
a. Consider other types of plastic waste or longer observation periods.
b. What changes would you make if you were to repeat this investigation?

10. Real-World Application:


Think about your local community or city. How could this experiment be applied to help reduce
plastic pollution in your area? Propose one or two actions that could be taken to reduce plastic
waste in local waterways.

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