Environmental science projects make children aware of the need to recycle.
Environmental science projects and experiments enable students to explore the numerous topics concerning the Earth, including air and water quality, the effects of pollution and climate change, the viability of renewable energy sources and process waste effectively. Children also become more aware of humanity's impact on our environment, and what we need to do to mitigate some of the problems caused by an overcrowded planet.
Easiest: Test the Biodegradability of Products
Decide on a test material. Choose a disposable product that is made of different materials or brands, such as paper, cups, plates, diapers, bags or wood. If you select paper, gather five types, such as cardboard, construction paper, notebook paper or a magazine cover. Use a permanent marker to label a popsicle stick for each paper type. Dig a trench in the backyard that is large enough to line up your paper types in a row. Bury your samples, putting a popsicle stick over each item to mark its location. Allow the paper to decay for at least three weeks. Develop a scale to measure the stages of degradation and assign numerical values. For example, no degradation equals "1," softened material is "2" and a few holes is "3," etc. After three weeks, dig up the paper samples and record their levels of degradation according to your scale. Make a bar graph of your data, using the x-axis as your scale and the y-axis as the type of material. Determine which materials will degrade best in a landfill.
Easy: Measure the Effects of Acid Rain on Aquatic Life
Gather 3 gallons of distilled water, measuring cups, five large plastic containers with lids, permanent marker, white vinegar, medicine dropper and pH test strips. Purchase a minimum of 15 of each of three different species of aquatic plants or animals, such as minnows, goldfish, pond snails, water fleas, duckweed or algae. Rinse each container and label them from one to five. Add 4 cups of distilled water to each container. Use a pH strip to test the pH of container #1's water. Use the medicine dropper to add vinegar to containers 2 to 5 in graduated increasing amounts. For example, container #2 should only have a few drops of vinegar so that its pH is close to distilled water. Add enough vinegar to container #5 so that its pH registers around 4.3, which was the pH of acidic rainwater in the United States in 2000. Place equal numbers of aquatic organisms into each container, mixing the plants and animals. Record the numbers, such as "10 fish, 10 snails and 10 duckweed plants." Create a table that charts your observations of each container. Conduct a viability essay assay every few hours by counting the number of organisms that are still alive in each container. Graph your results, using the x-scale for the pH of the water. Draw a line for each type of organism. Determine which organisms were the least and most resilient to changes in acidity.
Moderate: Forecast Health with Frogs
Gather dip nets, buckets, camera, wading boots and latex gloves. Ask your friends and at least one adult to volunteer to help you catch at least 100 frogs in a local pond or lake. Study the United States Geological Survey's Field Guide to Malformations in Frogs and Toads, so that you recognize the different types of frog malformations before you visit the pond. Add 1 to 2 inches of pond water to each bucket when at the pond. Place buckets in shady spot. Figure out how many frogs each volunteer group must catch to reach 100. Sort the frogs into two buckets, placing healthy-looking frogs into one bucket and malformed frogs into another bucket. Write down the number of healthy and malformed frogs. Photograph one representative healthy frog. Photograph each malformed frog. Return the frogs to the pond. Sort the malformed frog photographs into symmetrical and asymmetrical malformations. Sort them further into malformations of the spine, limb, head, eye, skin and multiple parts. Calculate the percentage of each type of malformation. Research the most common malformation you discovered and try and locate an environmental factor that may be responsible.
Challenging: Investigate an Earthworm's Diet
Gather 1 lb. of redworms or red wigglers, soil test kit, five 10-inch clay pots with drainage holes, potting soil, metric scale, black plastic bags, catch trays and large paper cups. Set up your earthworm colony. Fill each pot with potting soil until it is three-quarters full. Sprinkle with water. Weight an empty paper cup in grams on the scale. Place 40 to 50 earthworms into the cup. Weigh the cup again with the worms and subtract the cup's weight to arrive at the weight of the worms. Repeat four more times for a total of five groups of worms. Place each group into a pot and cover worms with moist soil. Wrap each pot in a plastic bag. Poke air holes into the bags. Store the pots on drainage trays in a shady place. Choose four diets, such as fruits, vegetables, grass, coffee grounds or crushed egg shells, for your worms. Create a data table to record start date, starting number of worms, weight of each group of worms, time and date of food additions, weight of food and the amount of water added and when. Use the soil test kit to measure pH as well as potassium, nitrogen and phosphorous levels of the potting soil. Label each pot with the type of food served to the worms. Check pots every two to three days. Count and record the number of worms and their group weight in each pot after at least two months. Dump the soil from the pot into a large tray and find the worms. Record any changes in the worms' appearance. Analyze the soil in the pots for acidity, potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. Create a table to present your results. Determine which type of diets had the greatest or least effect on the worm population.
Tags: each container, Determine which, distilled water, frogs into, potting soil, Create table, each group
