Want Salt With that?

 

Introduction:

            For your science unit on water quality, you will be researching the effect of road salt as it is applied during the winter months to melt snow and ice and as it is applied during the summer months to control dust on dirt roads.

            The objectives include learning how to search the Internet to gather information, how take measurements using Pasco probeware, how to assemble the information in a spreadsheet, and how to publish your findings on your web page.

       

 

The Final Product:

            Your final product will be a presentation of your group’s findings on your web page. This presentation can be viewed from home as well as from the school computer where it is made.

 

Directions:

            Calcium Chloride (road salt) is used to melt snow and ice in the winter as well as to keep dust down on dirt roads in the summer months.

            You are to seek information on the Internet about the effects of road salt on water supplies that exist near roadways.

            Go to http://www.google.com/ and search for sites using the phrases “road salt effects” and “road salt and drinking water.” Enter “What are the effects of road salt on drinking water?” and you’ll receive 788,000 hits. Look at the first two pages.  Also try: “environment and road salt” in Google.

            One or two members of your group will also use the Pasco Probeware to sample the amount of salt found in the soil next to roads in your neighborhood. Choose between five and ten locations, preferable near any wet areas. With your laptops, record the information

 

Assemble the Information:

            Once you have read the information on three sites, your next task is to list these web sites and write a brief summary (15-25 words) on a Word document. Save this document in your projects folder.

 

 

Make the Presentation:

            Your next task is to create a presentation showing what you have learned. You may enter a screen shot of a spreadsheet, data specific to streets, photos you have taken, and any other information you feel is helpful to share the data you have collected.

            Add your conclusions to the last page. Reflect back on the entire project. What went well? What didn’t? How would you do this differently next time?

 

Create your WebSite:

            Export your presentation for the web, upload it to your web page, make the link, and then email me the web address when you have finished for your final evaluation.

 

Recommended Web Sites:

 

http://ewr.cee.vt.edu/environmental/teach/gwprimer/roadsalt/roadsalt.html

 

http://www.forester.net/sw_0107_environmental.html

 

http://www.windsorsalt.com/deicing/cscl.htm

 

http://www.ec.gc.ca/substances/ese/eng/psap/final/roadsalts.cfm