Name: Date:
Student Exploration: Water Pollution
Vocabulary: bacterial pollution, nutrient pollution, sediment pollution, toxic pollution, water
pollution
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. Water pollution is the addition of harmful substances to water. Some of these substances
are found at home. What household chemicals might be harmful if not disposed of properly?
Household chemicals that might be harmful if not disposed of properly are car oil, yard
pesticides, and batteries.
2. What are some other causes of water pollution? Other causes of water pollution
include factory releases, human pollution, farming pesticides.
Gizmo Warm-up
The Water Pollution Gizmo™ will teach you about some of the
main kinds of water pollution. On the TYPE tab, under Types of
pollution, check that Toxic is selected. Read the paragraphs onthe
right and bottom of the Gizmo.
1. What is toxic pollution? Toxic pollution is chemical
contamination that cause disease, death, or birth defects
when ingested by organisms.
2. What are some examples of toxic pollutants listed in the Gizmo?
Examples include paint, oil, gasoline, lead and pesticide.
3. Can you think of other examples of toxic substances, not listed in the Gizmo?
Chlorine, Fluoride, PCB’s and DDT.
, Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
Types of water ● Check that the TYPE tab and Toxic pollution are
pollution selected.
Question: What are the main types of water pollution?
1. Read and learn: Besides toxic pollution, the other types of pollution are sediment pollution,
nutrient pollution, and bacterial pollution. You have already described toxic pollution on
the previous page. Read about the other types, and describe each in your own words.
Sediment pollution
Description: Pollution by soil and other materials that have been washed into
streams of bodies of water after it rains,
Causes: Caused by erosion of soil into waterways by logging, mining and
farming.
Consequences: Sediments pile up in rivers and destroy fish and wildlife
habitats.
Nutrient pollution
Description: The presence of excessive nutrients in the water such as nitrogen
and phosphorus.
Causes: It can promote explosive algal growth and eutrophication.
Consequences: The process of decomposition of algae consumes oxygen and leads to
hypoxia or low-oxygen conditions which kill fish and other organisms. _
Bacterial pollution
Description: The pollution of water by large amounts of bacteria.
Student Exploration: Water Pollution
Vocabulary: bacterial pollution, nutrient pollution, sediment pollution, toxic pollution, water
pollution
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. Water pollution is the addition of harmful substances to water. Some of these substances
are found at home. What household chemicals might be harmful if not disposed of properly?
Household chemicals that might be harmful if not disposed of properly are car oil, yard
pesticides, and batteries.
2. What are some other causes of water pollution? Other causes of water pollution
include factory releases, human pollution, farming pesticides.
Gizmo Warm-up
The Water Pollution Gizmo™ will teach you about some of the
main kinds of water pollution. On the TYPE tab, under Types of
pollution, check that Toxic is selected. Read the paragraphs onthe
right and bottom of the Gizmo.
1. What is toxic pollution? Toxic pollution is chemical
contamination that cause disease, death, or birth defects
when ingested by organisms.
2. What are some examples of toxic pollutants listed in the Gizmo?
Examples include paint, oil, gasoline, lead and pesticide.
3. Can you think of other examples of toxic substances, not listed in the Gizmo?
Chlorine, Fluoride, PCB’s and DDT.
, Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
Types of water ● Check that the TYPE tab and Toxic pollution are
pollution selected.
Question: What are the main types of water pollution?
1. Read and learn: Besides toxic pollution, the other types of pollution are sediment pollution,
nutrient pollution, and bacterial pollution. You have already described toxic pollution on
the previous page. Read about the other types, and describe each in your own words.
Sediment pollution
Description: Pollution by soil and other materials that have been washed into
streams of bodies of water after it rains,
Causes: Caused by erosion of soil into waterways by logging, mining and
farming.
Consequences: Sediments pile up in rivers and destroy fish and wildlife
habitats.
Nutrient pollution
Description: The presence of excessive nutrients in the water such as nitrogen
and phosphorus.
Causes: It can promote explosive algal growth and eutrophication.
Consequences: The process of decomposition of algae consumes oxygen and leads to
hypoxia or low-oxygen conditions which kill fish and other organisms. _
Bacterial pollution
Description: The pollution of water by large amounts of bacteria.
