Summer SAVY, Session 4 Day 3, “Solving the Chemical Spill: Navigating Ecological and Chemical Systems” (5th-6th)
Dear Parents,
Today was the day of pH! We started the day learning that “Seven is Heaven.” Thank you for sending your children in with water samples this morning. We started the day testing their pH. We hypothesized that although theoretically, they should all be 7, the samples would test at different pH numbers, both higher and lower. Interestingly enough, most of our water samples came in at 6 and under.
The students learned about the effects of chemical spills on people, the environment, and structures. We discussed the Cumberland River Basin and related this to our topographic maps from yesterday. We also talked about cascading consequences and causal loops, visual representations of how different variables in a system influence each other, forming feedback loops.
We hypothesized and tested the pH of 16 safe kitchen-type liquids, including black tea, dish liquid, antacid tablets dissolved in water, and lemon juice. We created graphs showing the pH of our various liquids.
This afternoon, the County Commissioner sent us a sample of the water near our spill, and we tested its pH. After determining it was an acid, we neutralized it with a base (and marveled at the bubbling and rising apple cider vinegar as we added baking soda). We ended the day reflecting in our journals about what we’ve experienced and learned, and how this can help us solve the chemical spill.
Friday, we will be visiting a Vanderbilt chemistry lab! Students are required to wear closed-toe shoes and long pants for safety reasons. Students may change clothes and shoes here at SAVY prior to our afternoon trip.
Dinner table questions:
- What have you learned about pH?
- How did you test the liquids in today’s experiments?
- What are your new ideas regarding the chemical spill?
We look forward to tomorrow!
Warmly,
Ms. Elizabeth and Ms. Sharon
