Project Overview

This scientific report was created by 5^th graders at the Genesee Community Charter School, in Rochester, New York, as part of a three-month learning expedition on water quality and the risks of pollution. Inspired in part by a similar study done by 5^th/6^th grade students in Massachusetts (see project #270), this class added additional levels of professionalism and depth to produce an adult-level scientific report.

The following questions guided the students’ investigation: How do scientists establish water quality? How do humans affect water?

Students conducted water tests at several sites on Round Pond Creek, a tributary of Lake Ontario, for which people had concerns about the water quality. Students worked with experts from the University of Rochester to learn how to use the water testing equipment.

Students studied different aspects of water quality including dissolved oxygen, pH, and alkalinity. They also used the percent model affinity method to sample macroinvertebrates.

At the end of their study, students presented their findings to the City of Rochester. Their results included a mixed review of the water quality.

Students chose a scientific paper as the format for their report. They read scientific papers and learned how to write in that format. Students really learned how to write in this style, as scientists, more than simply using parallel sections. Their paper includes an abstract, introduction, methods, results and discussion, with embedded recommendations for “taking action to help keep our environment clean”, as well as references.

Students included images from Google Earth maps to show their sites for sampling.

This book, and many others like it, are available for purchase on the schools’ website.