Field Trips

Electrical Conductivity STEM Backpack, Grades 6-8

Grade Level:
Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
Subject:
Science
State Standards:
Hawaii State Science  Standards:
SC.6.1.2 Scientific Inquiry
SC.7.3.3 Interdependence
SC.8.5.1 Biological Evolution
SC.ENV.1.2 Scientific Inquiry
SC.ENV.4.3 Systems and Connections
SC.ENV.4.6 Flow of Matter and Energy
SC.ENV.5.2 Human Impact

For life to thrive in Hawaii's culturally significant anchialine pools the water must have a specific range of salinities. Over extraction of groundwater for residential and commercial purposes put these pools at risk. Using this set of probes, your students will discover for themselves the range of salinities that are found along the trails at the park and assess the viability of the anchialine pools. 

This set of field equipment is designed to be used on the trails of Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park with Ranger supervision. The electrical conductivity measurements quantify the salinity of the various types of water encountered along the park's hiking trails. The backpack can be used with The Waters of Kaloko-Honokōhau Self-Guided Trail booklets, included in the backpack. Time Required: 3 hours.
 

This kit is one of three STEM kits about water science offered by the park. They can be completed in any order or individually, though the following order is recommended: 
 

 

Learning Objectives:

Field data collection and interpretation.
Use of water quality test probes.
Exploration of the interaction between groundwater and surface water.
 

How to request a kit:

Kits are available for loan to schools from Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park on the island of Hawaiʻi. The park has one backpack that contains 7 individually packaged probe sets with student.
Number of Kits per Set: 7

Student Group Size: 30

Contact the park at (808) 329-6881 x1329, Jon_Jokiel@nps.gov.

 

About the partnership:

 

The kit and activities are the result of a collaboration between the Colorado State University, College of Natural Sciences Educatoin and Outreach Center and the National Park Service. Through this partnership, CSU has developed a pre-visit, syn-visit and post-visit hands-on STEM activities for students grades 6th - 12th. The goal is to create place-based and culturally relevant STEM experiences that help students understand the science behind critical regional issues. More information about the partnership and activities and materials included in the kits are on CSU’s website: www.cns-eoc.colostate.edu/KAHOec.html

 

Lesson Plans

Last updated: February 28, 2019