Lesson Plan

Grades 3-5, 6-8

Who Polluted the Potomac?

This lesson plan must be purchased as part of a lesson packet or as part of a full curriculum that is available in our store.

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30 minutes

SUBJECTS: Language Arts, Science, Social Studies

TOPICS: Community Connections, Water Pollution

Resource Overview

Through an interactive story, grade 3-5 students experience the pollution of a local river over time and propose methods to protect the river from current and future pollution.

Students will be able to:
  • List three pollutants that can impact rivers.
  • Compare the health and use of rivers in modern times to that of rivers both before and during colonization.
  • Draw connections between individual actions and pollution of a river.
  • Develop strategies for minimizing and counteracting water pollution.

Features of This Resource

  • Students add “pollutants” to a bowl of water that represents a river
  • STEM extension focused on cleaning polluted water
  • A favorite lesson plan for Earth Day
  • Covers all five themes of geography

How Do I Get This Lesson Plan?

This lesson plan must be purchased as part of a lesson packet or as part of a full curriculum that is available in our store.

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