i teach 5th and 6th grade students at Earl Hanson Elementary School in Rock Island School District # 41.

I would like to have my students investigate where our drinking water supply in Rock Island originates and what influences the quality of the water we drink. i would like my students to be able to draw water samples from our water source (before it goes through filtration) to be able to test the water and look at the samples under microscopes. I would like them to analyze all the factors that locally impact our drinking water quality. I would like them to develop strategies to enlighten fellow students and citizens as to how their practices may influence the quality of the water they drink. I would also like them to gain an understanding of how water is purified and filtered. This could possibly involve a field trip to the local water purification plant (if possible) and the drawing of water sample from our primary drinking water source (Mississippi River).

I am looking for persons who could come and demonstrate water testing procedures on a small scale and provide some hands on activities that would involve the students in analyzing water, discussion of the factors that influence water quality, and give them a basic understanding of the water treatment and purification process.

This project would most likely have to take place either first quarter, September-December 2010 OR spring quarter March-May 2011.