Embedded Files
Group Members' Roles:
Stage 1: Analyse the GI questions
Understanding of the GI Questions
Before you begin your investigation, let’s examine carefully the main GI questions: ‘What is the quality of water in a waterway or water body? How do human activities affect the quality of water in a waterway or water body?' We can better understand the focus of the GI questions by first identifying the keywords and phrases in the question. Secondly, we can also generate some guiding questions to break down the task into smaller parts.
Keeping in mind the main GI questions, some guiding questions my group thought of, using the Core Questions of Geography question frame, to guide our investigation are:
With the main GI questions in mind, our group agreed on the following two guiding questions. These guiding questions are selected as we consider them to be most relevant to our understanding of the GI question and they will guide us in our investigation.
1. We Choose ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… because …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. We chose …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… because ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Stage 2: Gather and Select Data
Recording Sheet A
a) Map of the waterway
Name of field site: Punggol waterway near Waterwaypoint mall (2019)
Indicate on the map below with a letter ‘X’ showing the site where your group will collect primary data.
Briefly describe the weather conditions (e.g., temperature, rainfall & wind) on the actual day of fieldwork. How will it affect your investigation?
Find out the history of Lorong Halus Wetland. How will this knowledge affect your investigation?
b) Water Testing
For each indicator of water quality, you have to write down the following:
definition
steps to measure it
precautions taken to ensure accuracy of readings
calculation of the average of three readings
Recording Sheet B
i) Turbidity
Definition:
Turbidity is the measure of the relative clarity of water.
Importance:
Murkiness can give some clues to what may be in the water. There may be dissolved pollutants or bacteria. However, murky water does not necessarily mean there is pollution.
Steps for measuring turbidity:
1. Pour the collected sample water into the white container.
2. Compare the appearance of Secchi disk icon in the container to the chart.
Precautions taken to ensure accuracy of readings:
· Fill up the container to the fill line.
· Record the result as turbidity in JTU.
Data Collection
ii) Dissolved Oxygen
Definition:
The dissolved oxygen is the amount of oxygen dissolved in a given volume of water, at a given temperature and atmospheric pressure. This can be measured in milligrams per litre (mg/l) or parts per million (ppm).
Importance:
The minimum amount of dissolved oxygen needed to sustain fish life is about 4 mg/l.
Steps for measuring dissolved oxygen:
1. Fill the vial to the brim.
2. Ensure no air bubbles are visible
3. Insert 2 tablets for dissolved oxygen testing
4. Cover the vial with the black cap
5. Shake the vial continuously for 10 minutes
6. Observe colour change and compare colour against the dissolved oxygen chart.
Precautions taken to ensure accuracy of readings:
· Vial must be submerged into the white container while filling the vial with collected water. This is to avoid introducing bubbles in the vial.
· Always place the vial against the white background when comparing collected water with the given chart.
Data Collection
iii) pH value
Definition:
It is a measurement of acidity or alkalinity of an aqueous solution.
Importance:
· Most aquatic animals prefer a range of pH 6.5 to 8.0.
· pH can be affected by acid rain or wastewater discharges.
· If the living conditions have a pH value away from this range, these aquatic animals will either flee or die.
Steps for measuring pH:
1. Fill the test tube up to the 10 ml mark.
2. Insert a pH tablet into the test tube.
3. Shake the test tube continuously for 5 minutes
4. Observe colour change and compare colour against the pH chart.
Precautions taken to ensure accuracy of readings:
Always place the test tube against the white background when comparing collected water with the given chart.
Data Collection
Recording Sheet C
c) Observation of Positive Human Activities
i. What are the positive human activities that you observe at this site? How would these activities improve the water quality?
ii. What are other possible sources (which may not be observable during your fieldwork) that may improve the water quality?
iii. Are there measures (e.g., presence of netting to trap rubbish, etc.) to ensure that the quality of water would be able to support aquatic fishes as well as meet the needs of humans?
Recording Sheet D
d) Observation of Negative Human Activities
i. What are the negative human activities that you observe at this site? How would these activities affect the water quality?
ii. What are other possible source (which may not be observable during your fieldwork) that may affect the water quality?
iii. Are there measures (e.g., presence of netting to trap rubbish, etc.) to ensure that the quality of water would be able to support aquatic fishes as well as meet the needs of humans?
e) Photographs & Annotations
Insert your annotated photographs here.
Stage 3: Analyse Data
Recording Sheet E
Interpret, analyse and represent data gathered
Welcome back to class! After measuring the water quality, taking notes and taking photographs of the waterway, your group will have to start analysing the data collected. An important question to ask yourself and each other is: How do the data we have collected help us to answer the main GI questions of ‘What is the quality of water in a waterway or water body? How do human activities affect the quality of water in a waterway or water body?'
Based on the data collected, your group will need to interpret and analyse the average reading obtained for each indicator. Together, with reference to your notes for human activities and annotated photographs, write a summary on what is observed and explanation on various indicators of water quality and human activities.
For each water indicator (i.e., turbidity, dissolved oxygen and pH), you could use the following questions to guide you in the analysis of your group data:
· What is the average reading?
· What does this reading tell you about the turbidity or dissolved oxygen or pH of water in the waterway or water body?
· Is the reading within the acceptable range for use by humans and able to support aquatic fishes?
· What does the reading tell you about the water quality at this field site along the waterway or water body?
Turbidity
Dissolved Oxygen
pH value
Human Activities
You could use the following questions to guide you in the analysis of your group data:
· What are the observed effects of human activities on the water quality in the waterway or water body?
· What other human activities are likely to be carried out near this waterway or water body at other times of the day and on weekends? How do these human activities affect the water quality?
People littering(People who cycle, jog, walk around the area)
People opening restaurant nearby(Air pollution, temperature rise)
Stage 4: Construct Group Response
Construct a group response to the GI questions
Based on your group’s analysis in Stage 3, construct a group conclusion to the main GI questions.
Group’s conclusion to the main GI questions on ‘What is the quality of water in a waterway or water body? How do human activities affect the quality of water in a waterway or water body?'
After your group has reached a conclusion, use the information in Recording Sheets A to E of this GI log to produce your group’s end product. Please refer to the guidelines for the group end product as well as the Scoring Rubrics.
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