Water's the Matter--Standards: Nitrates

TEKS for Middle School Science	How the TEKS are Integrated into the Lesson
(6.1) (7.1) (8.1) Students will make wise choices in the use and conservation of resources and the disposal of materials.	Through the Presentation, students will learn how most sources of excess nitrates come from human activities.
(6.2) (7.2) (8.2) The students will conduct experiments and use scientific methods to record and interpret their information.	Through the Activity, students will make behavioral predictions of what happens to the fish in different concentrations of nitrates.
(6.4) (7.4) (8.4) The student will collect, analyze and record information using several tools.	Through the Activity, students will collect and analyze information using tools such as beakers and nitrate solution. Students will record their observations in the journal activity sheet which is provided.
(6.11) (7.11) (8.11) The student will identify responses in organisms to external stimuli such as the presence or absence of light or light. The student will also identify that changes in environmental conditions can affect the survival of individuals and of species.	Through the Presentation, students will know that high concentrations of nitrates causes a proliferation of algal growth, and in turn due to which sunlight cannot reach the bottom of a water body and hence all organisms at the bottom of the water body cannot survive. Through the Presentation, students will learn the effects of excess nitrates on the survival of individuals and of species.

TEKS for Middle School Mathematics	How the TEKS are Integrated into the Lesson
(6.2) (7.2) (8.2) The student adds, subtracts, multiplies and divides to solve problems and justify solutions.	Through the Activity, students will use division of whole numbers to solve problems.
(6.11) (7.13) (8.14) The student applies Grade 6 mathematics to solve problems connected to everyday experiences, investigations in other disciplines, and activities in and outside of school.	Through the Activity, students will learn to use tools such as paper/pencil and technology to make behavioral observations and predictions of the Goldfish behavior due to low and high concentrations of nitrates.
(8.5) The student uses tables to make predictions.	Through the Activity, students will use a table to record their observations and make behavioral predictions of the Goldfish in low and high concentrations of nitrates.

TEKS for Middle School Technology	How the TEKS are Integrated into the Lesson
(1) Foundations The student demonstrates knowledge and appropriate use of hardware components, software programs, and their connections.	Throughout the lesson, students will use terminology including, but not limited to, World Wide Web (WWW), link, Internet, Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), and web page.
(2) Foundations The student uses data input skills appropriate to the task.	Students will demonstrate proficient use of the mouse and keyboard, as they navigate through the lesson and related web pages.
(3) Foundations The student complies with the laws and examines the issues regarding the use of technology in society.	While following links on the Internet and using the World Wide Web (WWW), the student will demonstrate proper etiquette and knowledge of acceptable computer use in the classroom or lab.
(4) Information Acquisition The student uses a variety of strategies to acquire information from electronic resources, with appropriate supervision.	During the Presentation, the student will use the Internet to find new information.
(5) Communication The student forms digital information for appropriate and effective communication	The student will fill out activity sheets which could be useful in communicating their knowledge on the effect nitrates have on aquatic organisms.