Soil Nutrients, Fertilizers and Environmental Impact
Students investigate the quality of water that passes through soil. They first test unfertilized soil and fresh water for the presence of nitrates then add fertilizer to the soil and test both the fertilized soil and the runoff water for nitrates. They construct an explanation about how fertilizer use effects water quality and natural habitats. They apply the crosscutting concept of cause and effect to human activity and environmental impacts.
Details at a Glance
- 1-2 Days | 1-2 ~50 minute class periods
- 1 Activity
- Accommodates 2 classes, each with 8 groups of 4 students
- Consumables service 64 students
- Meets our criteria for supporting literacy
- Includes digital resources
- Developed in partnership with SEPUP
- Requires a water source
Scientific Concepts
Disciplinary Core Ideas
•MS-ESS3.C Human Impacts on Earth Systems
•MS-ESS2.C The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes
Science and Engineering Practices
•Developing and Using Models
•Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
•Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
Crosscutting Concepts
•Cause and Effect
•Connections to Science, Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science:
Influence of Science, Engineering, and Technology on Society and the Natural World
Key Vocabulary: contaminant, evidence, groundwater, indicator, nutrients, runoff,
trade-off
Guides & Student Sheets
Our kits and modules provide you with everything you need so you can open, review, and teach the material confidently the next day.
- Comprehensive Teacher Guide with background information, detailed instruction, example data and answers
- Student Sheets with age appropriate background information, full procedure(s), and analysis items
- Materials necessary for the investigation (beyond common classroom items)
- Safety Data Sheets
Kit Components
- 8 Vials marked "A"
- 8 Vials marked "B"
- 16 Caps for vials
- 8 AB trays
- 8 SEPUP filter funnels
- 25 Fine filter-paper circles
- 8 Nitrogen color charts
- 8 30-mL graduated cups
- 8 3-mL pipets
- 8 White scoops
- 8 Stir sticks
- 8 Plastic cups
- 3 120 mL bottles of nitrate extraction solution
- 2 60 mL bottles of fertilizer solution
- 1 Vial of nitrate testing powder
- 1 Safety Data Sheet (SDS) packet
- Downloadable pdfs of student and teacher literature
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