Inquiry Based Lab on Soil Pollution

During this weeks lab I taught my students about soil pollution using Inquiry Based instruction. I started this lab by asking my students, "How does soil pollution effect more that just the topsoil"? Whenever teaching with inquiry, using an essential question is a good way to get the students to create their own way to answer the question effectively and present their findings using the scientific method.
The lab materials I had for the students were:

• White Bread
• Food Coloring
• Pipette
• Water
• Plates
• Sprinkles
• Spaghetti Sauce

The students were then instructed to demonstrate the affect of pollutants on the topsoil. I got 2 very interesting demonstrations of what happens to the soil after there is a pollutant and after it is rained on. For my demonstration, I held the piece of white bread vertically, used 4 drops of red food coloring on the crust and let it soak in. Next, I used the pipette to drop a couple full pipettes onto the bread and watched the food coloring spread through the soil, and eventually, reaching the very bottom of the bread.

This lab was meant to display how pollutants not only affect the topsoil, but affect the layers of soil below, and can even reach the groundwater. I also had students answer questions from a worksheet that brought all of these ideas together.

Pros:
1. I let the students be creative with the lab materials and did not give them a specific lab procedure.
2. I showed the students how I envisioned the lab to be after they were done; this gave them the "picture" that I wanted them to remember.
3. I feel that my confidence is getting much better and it is showing in the tone of my voice and the way that I am moving throughout the room.
4. The clarity of my instruction is also greatly improving every lesson that I teach.

Cons:
1. Knowing the scientific content to push my students to higher level learning and questioning.
2. Effective questioning for the students.
3. I need to work on my enthusiasm in the class; my voice is a little monotone, but getting better as my confidence rises.
4. Explaining the need to know the content. Why the students should know the material.

I look forward to bettering my skills as an educator by working on the "cons" that I have listed!

Thanks,
Mike