Teacher Portal
Watersheds
Investigation 2
Investigation 2
Watersheds
Phase 1 – Defined Understanding
Student Guide
Download and Distribute
Access Teacher Guide
Student Guide with answers
Teacher PreLab
Prepare for the Experiment
Phase 2 – Dynamic Understanding
► Investigation Two Summary – Sedimentation and Turbidity
In Investigation Two, you further investigated watersheds and sedimentation. During this Investigation, you:
1. Created a model of the watershed and tested the amount of sedimentation and turbidity at various water velocities.
2. Used a spectrophotometer to measure the transmittance of light in water samples of varying water velocity and turbidity.
► Investigation Two Summary – Learning Goals
Through these experiments, you concluded that:
1. Water with a higher velocity will have a higher turbidity, leading to more sediment suspended in the water. High turbidity can impact organisms living in the watershed. Less light will get through the water, causing a decrease in photosynthesis by water plants. The decrease in photosynthesis leads to a decrease in the oxygen in the water.
2. Water with a higher velocity will have a higher turbidity. More sediment will be suspended in the water and less sedimentation will occur (less sediment will settle out on the bottom). Water with a lower velocity or slower moving water will have a lower turbidity. Less sediment will be suspended in the water and more sedimentation will occur (more sediment will settle on the bottom).
Concept Slides
Launch and Discuss
Mathematics Concepts in This Investigation
- volume in mLs
- time in minutes
- rotations per minute
- measuring mass using a digital scale
- mass in grams
- comparing values/measurable characteristics
- estimation
- percentages
- least to greatest
- greater than/less than/equal to
- (in)dependent variables
- line graph
- patterns/trends
- (in)direct relationships
- skip counting by 10 and 50
- data analysis
- problem-solving
- data table
- data analysis
- decimals to the nearest tenth