Login or register now to maximize your savings and access profile information, order history, tracking, shopping lists, and more.
Our Customer Service team is available from 8am to 6:30pm, ET, Monday through Friday. Live chat is available from 8am to 5:30pm ET, Monday-Friday.
We serve educators in more than 170 countries worldwide. Create a quote request on our website or contact our International Sales Team.
Login or register now to maximize your savings and access profile information, order history, tracking, shopping lists, and more.
Your Shopping Cart is currently empty. Use Quick Order or Search to quickly add items to your order!
Students investigate possible water source contamination by coliform bacteria. In the first investigation, students use sterile technique to collect water samples and plate them on selective media. The media allow students to differentiate between general coliform, Escherichia coli, and noncoliform bacteria colonies. After 24 to 48 hours, they analyze the results and compare their findings to local water quality standards for coliform bacteria.
In the second investigation, students analyze samples from a fictional location. Based on the results of their analysis, students infer potential sources of contamination and propose design solutions to reduce the environmental impacts of human activities linked to bacterial contamination of water. Students describe the importance of clean water to public health with the goal of answering the driving question, “How can we monitor a community’s water for coliform contamination?”
Time Requirement
Teacher prep, approximately 2 class periods. Pre-lab, investigation, and assessment, 3 to 4 class periods.
Digital Resources
Includes 1-year access to digital resources that support 3-dimensional instruction for NGSS. Digital resources may include a teacher manual and student guide, pre-lab activities and setup videos, phenomenon videos, simulations, and post-lab analysis and assessments.
Performance Expectation(s)
HS-LS2-7
Crosscutting Concepts
Cause and Effect
Disciplinary Core Ideas
LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience
ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions
Science and Engineering Practices
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Learning Objectives
Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills
Students should feel comfortable with mathematical manipulation, including multiplication and division. They should have basic knowledge of the water cycle and the awareness that human activity and other factors affect the health of aquatic ecosystems.
This product is backed by our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. If for any reason you are not satisfied with any item, you may return it for a replacement, a refund, or credit. Read more about our Return and Exchange Policy »