National Standards for Grade Levels 7-10
 
This exercise examines various types of pollutants, their sources, and their effects on the ocean, its inhabitants and the surrounding coastline. Students classify ocean pollution into five basic categories; debris, toxins, dissolved nutrients, particulates, and oil. They model the effects of ocean pollution with activities examining a variety of topics: the effect of the pH of various liquids on calcium carbonate; the effects of dilution, buffering capacity, salt and acid runoff; acid rain; the ability of water to purify itself; and oil spill clean-up.  As a final project, students design and write a newsletter containing articles with pertinent pollution topics such as current laws, pollution, effects, bioaccumulation, and prevention. Requires four class periods plus research time.  Required, but not included: six 1 gallon milk containers.  Designed for 24 students working in six groups of four.