Transparency of Water

Purpose: To increase observation skills, To develop descriptive writing skills, To interpret data and draw conclusions.
Season: Fall, Winter, Spring
Materials: Freshwater areas, clear bottles, white paper, pencils, paper, clipboards
TEKS: 5.1A    5.2A,B,C,D    5.4A,B     5,8B
Background Information: Water transparency is important to the growth of water plants. The clearer the water the more sunlight can penetrate, and the greater the amount of photosynthesis that can take place, allowing for more prolific plant growth.
Procedure:
  1. Fill one bottle with water from a designated area.
  2. Hold the bottle against the white paper.
  3. On the data sheet, children record location of the water source and the color of the water. Encourage the use of color hues in the description.
  4. Collect water samples from several locations at Miller Springs. (Ask children to bring water samples from other locations to the classroom for comparisons. Teachers may want to look for organisms in the water.)
Questions: From this data, what conclusions can you draw regarding life in this location?

 

Sample Data Sheet
Date Location of sample Color
     
     

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