Science Sample Lesson Plan

Title: Pollution Affects Bodies of Water and Living Organisms

Grade: 2nd and 3rd
Materials:
Empty pop bottle (1 liter)
Dirt
Paint (Bright color so students can observe movement easier.)
Scissors
Water
Blank sheets of paper and crayons
Smart Board
Connection: 30 seconds
Yesterday we talked about the vocabulary used to describe the water cycle. We also
talked about how pollution can disturb the water cycle, and cause problems for many
living organisms. Today we will be doing an experiment! We will see first hand how
pollution moves through water, and affects bodies of water and living organisms.
Michigans GLCEs:
S.RS.02.14 Demonstrate the sources and uses of water through models or
exhibits.
Students investigate and share information about the causes and effects of
water pollution on living things.
Learning Target/Objective: 1 minute
I can explain how pollution affects water and the living things in and around the water
Teaching Point: 5 minutes
Begin by showing students a video to motivate them in wanting to stop people from
polluting the water. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku5dgUtXcLo : Water
Pollution Awareness Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwjeo1ypJss : Water Pollution experiment (will do
in class, video is if the experiment does not work).
Do the pollution experiment: Cut the top of a liter sized bottle, fill the top with a coffee
filter and sand, poor red paint on top to represent pollution, poor water on top to
represent rain.
Guided: 10 minutes
Ask the students: What do you observe? (Have students turn and talk).
The red paint (pollution) is being washed into the larger bodies of water (oceans, lakes,
rivers).
What happens to the paint in this model? (Students turn and talk.)
Can our paint be separated from the clean water? (Students turn and talk.) (No, if it is a
chemical or oil it cannot. Pollution gets caught on animals feathers and fur. Pollution can

destroy clean lakes and rivers.)

The red in the water represents the pollutants that do not separate easily, and can be
evaporated and become apart of the precipitation- acid rain, mercury. Make sure students
observe the water moving the pollution below the surface, as well as moving across the
surface to potential other bodies of water.
Have students turn and talk, and share a time when they experiences pollution harming
the environment or animals.

Independent: 30 minutes
Students will draw a diagram showing how pollution affects fresh water and other
animals. Students will list ways they could prevent water pollution.
Students will color the diagram, and label the water sources and organisms being
impacted by the pollution.
Formative Assessment: Students will be assessed on the content in their drawing. The drawing
must include: pollution being absorbed into the group and pollution affecting a water source,
animal or plant.
Extension: Students who need to be challenged will write about what they observed during the
experiment. Have them answer the following: How does pollution harm the environment? How
does pollution move on the earth? What could happen if pollution washed into lakes, rivers, and
oceans? This will be a time for them to reflect on how the model represented a real world
situation. If they finish writing they can create an illustration to go with their explanation.
Simplification: If students need a simplification have them draw a picture showing pollution on
the earth harming an animal, plant, body of water, or person. Students who may struggle with
writing or spelling can use pictures to illustrate their observations and findings.
Midpoint: Walk around the room and observe the students. See what they might need to be
reminded of during the independent work time:
Teacher will say, I see students drawing paint on the ground. This is a type of pollution,
but remember the paint I used during the experiment represented oil, trash, fertilizer, and
other pollutants. Try and think of other pollutants that you have observed in your life or
in our class lessons.
DISCUSS/SUMMARY 3-5 minutes
(Pull two different students to share their drawings with the class.)
Have the students turn and talk about:
When people throw trash on the ground are water and animals affected?
What could you do to prevent pollution?
What living things where affected by pollution in your drawing?
Today we looked at the affects of pollution on fresh water and other living organisms. We will
continue talking about the importance of preventing pollution in future lessons. Remember,
bodies of water are often connected. When pollution gets into a river it is most likely that it will
travel to lakes, streams, and even oceans!