Lesson Summary Students observe samples of water collected from their homes and community.  They compare samples and evaporate the water to find out if any contain dissolved materials.  They consider the different types of water used for different purposes. Teacher Background Water contains different materials that affect its quality Evaporation can be used to detect materials dissolved in water. Teacher Observations:  Informal notes. Set-up/Management Tips Ideally, assign students to collect water over a weekend. Bring extra water samples for those who don’t have one. Make a class list of possible water collection sites, and remind students that toilet water is not acceptable. Literacy Support A River Ran Wild by Lynne Cherry—use this book to illustrate the affect that humans can have on water quality.  Excellent connection to a study of the NE region of the USA. The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks (134909) Science Stories Read "Ellen Swallow Richards:  An Early Ecologist.” Scientific Vocabulary The following words are key vocabulary words that will be introduced in this lesson and reinforced throughout the unit: water quality