Scenario

A recent hurricane caused the flood gates to be opened on the Conowingo Dam.
This caused extensive flooding in the Aberdeen Proving Ground which released
heavy metal contaminants into the various water supplies (wells, bay, ponds etc).
Your job as an EPA chemist is to evaluate the contamination spill and determine
the long term effects to the environment.

Task and Product

Working in small groups, you will research various heavy metals to complete your
investigation chart. Once the chart has been completed you will then write a community
reponse plan or create a music video using your findings.

Heavy Metal Investigation Chart
Community Action Plan

Assessments

• Your work in the group will be assessed with this group work rubric:
  Group Work Assessment
  
  Community Action Plan
• Your teacher may also use additional assessments.

Question

Essential Question:

• How do heavy metals affect various organs in the body?
• Describe various methods by which heavy metals can posion the human body.
• What are some of the long term effects in humans?
• How do communities clean up or contain chemical spills?
• Describe some methods of treatment for heavy metal poisoning in humans.
  

Gather and Sort

Gather information about heavy metals from a variety of sources.

Sort your research findings using a graphic organizer or note cards. Be sure
to avoid plagiarism and keep track of your resources for a bibliography.

Organize

Analyze your completed project.

• Have you adequately completed the Investigation Chart?
• Have you read about previous heavy metal contaminations?
• Which metals seem to be of most concern to you?

Synthesize your findings.

• What new insights have emerged?
• How will you incorporate the most important aspects of your research
  into your plan?
• Complete the Investigation Chart.
  

Evaluate the effectiveness of your research for the task.

• Have you gathered sufficient details about the heavy metals on your
  Investigation chart in order to write your plan?
• Is your research reflected in the plan?

Conclusion

Each group will share the information from their contaminant research to complete the Heavy Metal Chart. Each group will turn in their completed plan to the teacher in the form of a Community Action Plan. The teacher may choose to have students present/share highlights of their community response plan to the class.

Reflection and/or Extension Activities:

Complete the BCPS Chemistry Lab: Laws of Conservation of Mass.

As a culminating activity each student will prepare a Constructed Response
answering the essential question:
How would the study of heavy metal contamination help us plan for future
chemical spills?

Remember to support your responses with the information you have gained
from your research and that of the other groups.