Lessons and Activities

Results of Mine Drainage Remediation

In this video, a biologist visits Lower Rock Creek in Pulaski County, Kentucky to show how acid mine drainage remediation has increased the stream’s pH from acidic levels almost to 7, which is neutral. Many fish species such as minnows, trout, and bass have returned to Rock Creek.

• Grade Level(s):

  Gr. 6 | Age 12, Gr. 7 | Age 13, Gr. 8 | Age 14, Gr. 9 | Age 15, Gr. 10 | Age 16, Gr. 11 | Age 17, Gr. 12 | Age 18

• Subjects:

  Science

• Language:

  English

• Posted:

  Jun. 27, 2011

Posted by:

Teachers Domain

Acid Mine Drainage Remediation

In this video, an environmental technologist visits an abandoned coal mine in Kentucky to talk about how a remediation system (a series of settling ponds and treatment cells) is neutralizing the acid drainage from the mine and preventing damage to a creek downstream.

• Grade Level(s):

  Gr. 6 | Age 12, Gr. 7 | Age 13, Gr. 8 | Age 14, Gr. 9 | Age 15, Gr. 10 | Age 16, Gr. 11 | Age 17, Gr. 12 | Age 18

• Subjects:

  Science

• Language:

  English

• Posted:

  Jun. 27, 2011

Posted by:

Teachers Domain

High Sulfur Coal and Acidic Water

In this video, after briefly discussing the geologic era in which Kentucky’s high-sulfur coal formed, a geologist demonstrates how high-sulfur coal causes acid mine drainage.

• Grade Level(s):

  Gr. 6 | Age 12, Gr. 7 | Age 13, Gr. 8 | Age 14, Gr. 9 | Age 15, Gr. 10 | Age 16, Gr. 11 | Age 17, Gr. 12 | Age 18

• Subjects:

  Science

• Language:

  English

• Posted:

  Jun. 27, 2011

Posted by:

Teachers Domain

Restoring Lower Rock Creek

This brief video describes how Lower Rock Creek’s location between two National Wild and Scenic Rivers caused Kentucky environmentalists to choose the creek as a target for acid mine drainage remediation.

• Grade Level(s):

  Gr. 6 | Age 12, Gr. 7 | Age 13, Gr. 8 | Age 14, Gr. 9 | Age 15, Gr. 10 | Age 16, Gr. 11 | Age 17, Gr. 12 | Age 18

• Subjects:

  Science

• Language:

  English

• Posted:

  Jun. 27, 2011

Posted by:

Teachers Domain

An Alaska Native Community Helps Seals

In this video segment from First Alaskans Institute, learn about northern fur seals (laaqudan), their importance to the Alaska Native diet, and how the community of St. Paul Island participates in their conservation and protection.

• Grade Level(s):

  Gr. 3 | Age 9, Gr. 4 | Age 10, Gr. 5 | Age 11, Gr. 6 | Age 12, Gr. 7 | Age 13, Gr. 8 | Age 14, Gr. 9 | Age 15, Gr. 10 | Age 16, Gr. 11 | Age 17, Gr. 12 | Age 18

• Subjects:

  Science

• Language:

  English

• Posted:

  Jun. 27, 2011

Posted by:

Teachers Domain

Losing Permafrost in Alaska

This video adapted from Spanner Films describes the effects of changes to permafrost, the frozen layer of soil and ice that underlies much of Alaska, caused by a warming climate.

• Grade Level(s):

  Gr. 6 | Age 12, Gr. 7 | Age 13, Gr. 8 | Age 14, Gr. 9 | Age 15, Gr. 10 | Age 16, Gr. 11 | Age 17, Gr. 12 | Age 18

• Subjects:

  Science

• Language:

  English

• Posted:

  Jun. 27, 2011

Posted by:

Teachers Domain

Acid Mine Drainage and Precipitates

In this video, environmental scientists measure the pH of water to detect acid mine drainage.

• Grade Level(s):

  Gr. 6 | Age 12, Gr. 7 | Age 13, Gr. 8 | Age 14, Gr. 9 | Age 15, Gr. 10 | Age 16, Gr. 11 | Age 17, Gr. 12 | Age 18

• Subjects:

  Science

• Language:

  English

• Posted:

  Jun. 27, 2011

Posted by:

Teachers Domain

Water Solutions: Stream Restoration

This video explores how Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest near Louisville, Kentucky restored a channelized stream to its original meandering path.

• Grade Level(s):

  Gr. 6 | Age 12, Gr. 7 | Age 13, Gr. 8 | Age 14, Gr. 9 | Age 15, Gr. 10 | Age 16, Gr. 11 | Age 17, Gr. 12 | Age 18

• Subjects:

  Science

• Language:

  English

• Posted:

  Jun. 27, 2011

Posted by:

Teachers Domain

Reusing Wastewater

This video demonstrates how peat filtration beds at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest near Louisville, Kentucky purify and conserve wastewater and eliminate one cause of non-point-source water pollution.

• Grade Level(s):

  Gr. 4 | Age 10, Gr. 5 | Age 11, Gr. 6 | Age 12, Gr. 7 | Age 13, Gr. 8 | Age 14, Gr. 9 | Age 15, Gr. 10 | Age 16, Gr. 11 | Age 17, Gr. 12 | Age 18

• Subjects:

  Science

• Language:

  English

• Posted:

  Jun. 27, 2011

Posted by:

Teachers Domain

Mycoremediation

This video explores the process of mycoremediation: planting fungi such as oyster mushrooms to mitigate non-point-source water pollution caused by oil, gasoline, and other toxic substances.

• Grade Level(s):

  Gr. 6 | Age 12, Gr. 7 | Age 13, Gr. 8 | Age 14, Gr. 9 | Age 15, Gr. 10 | Age 16, Gr. 11 | Age 17, Gr. 12 | Age 18

• Subjects:

  Science

• Language:

  English

• Posted:

  Jun. 27, 2011

Posted by:

Teachers Domain