Students investigate a realistic local air or water pollution problem and use chemistry evidence to identify key pollutants, trace their sources, and explain how purification or reduction methods work. Through the Pollution Detectives Kickoff, a school-gate observation walk with the security guard, scenario-card analysis, and simple filtration and boiling-point tests, they build and revise source maps and chemistry explanations grounded in real observations and data. The work leads to a group portfolio and a student-led presentation package for “Local Waters, Local Air: Evidence Night,” where students defend practical, community-relevant solutions. Across each session, circle reflections and peer critique help students strengthen scientific reasoning, communication, collaboration, and next-step planning.

Students will identify major local air and water pollutants from scenario cards and a school-gate observation walk with the security guard, trace each pollutant to likely sources, and evaluate which questions are testable with available school lab methods. They will plan and conduct filtration and boiling-point investigations, analyze evidence from source maps and test results, and use chemistry ideas about mixtures, purification, and simple reactions to explain how pollutants are detected and reduced. Students will revise their explanations and designs through gallery-walk critique, circle reflections, and portfolio feedback, then communicate clear cause-and-effect claims and realistic solutions in a student-led presentation package for Local Waters, Local Air: Evidence Night.

Students will create a group portfolio over the two weeks that includes their scenario card analysis, school-gate observation notes from the security guard walk, a pollution source map, filtration and boiling-point test data tables, and revised chemistry explanations written with clear “because…so…” cause-and-effect statements. Along the way, teams will produce a first-draft source map for gallery-walk critique, feedback notes, and a refined explanation of how chemistry identifies key local air or water pollutants and possible reduction strategies. By the end, each group will present a short student-led presentation package for “Local Waters, Local Air: Evidence Night,” including a poster, selected sample data, and evidence-based recommendations tied to their local scenario.

Begin with a “Pollution Detectives Kickoff” in which teams receive a local scenario card, then take a short school-gate observation walk with the security guard to note traffic, idling vehicles, dust, odors, and any water-related clues. Back in class, students sort these observations into possible pollutants, choose one testable question about local air or water, and draft a first pollution source map linking pollutant, source, and likely impact. End with a fast whole-class evidence share where teams explain one “because…so…” claim and identify what chemistry evidence they will need to verify it through filtration or boiling-point investigations.

Hold a “Local Waters, Local Air: Evidence Night” where each team gives a 5-minute student-led presentation to families, classmates, and a community audience that includes the school gate security guard as a local observer. Students display their posters, pollution source maps, filtration and boiling-point test data, and revised chemistry explanations, then answer questions from visitors acting like a community hearing panel. Set up the room as a gallery so guests can rotate between teams, compare local scenario findings, and leave feedback on the realism and scientific strength of each group’s proposed pollution-reduction ideas. End with a short whole-group reflection in which students name one chemistry idea they clarified, one collaboration strength they used, and one next step they would take to improve local air or water quality.