Runoff Runaway: CPALMS & B.E.S.T. Aligned Environmental Science Curriculum |Grades 3-12|

 With Pathways, chart the course in your classroom based on you and your student’s needs.

🔹 Elementary (3rd–5th Grade) – Focus on basic concepts of pollution, water cycles, and human impact.

🔹 Middle School (6th–8th Grade) – Introduce chemical runoff, ecosystems, and problem-solving strategies.

🔹 High School (9th–12th Grade) – Analyze policy solutions, conduct water quality testing, and explore engineering-based mitigation efforts.

Pathway Applications:

✅ STEM-Focused – Incorporate math and engineering components for solution design.
✅ Social Studies Connection – Explore the effects of human development and policy on environmental health.
✅ Project-Based Learning – Use Runoff Runaway as the foundation for a multi-week research and solution-building project.

Example Pathway: A 7th-grade teacher selects the STEM-Focused Pathway, guiding students through an experiment on runoff pollution and designing water filtration prototypes.

With Depth Layers, you can control the complexity of the lesson, ensuring students engage at the right level.

Surface Layer (Core Concepts & Hands-On Exploration)

🌱 Key Idea: How does runoff pollution happen, and why is it a problem?
🔹 Conduct the Runoff Runaway experiment using Kool-Aid as a fertilizer model.
🔹 Observe how rain carries pollutants into waterways.
🔹 Discuss the impact of pollution on lakes and rivers.

Mid-Level Layer (Application & Problem-Solving)

🌿 Key Idea: How do different land-use practices affect water pollution?
🔹 Compare how different materials (grass, sand, concrete) impact runoff.
🔹 Investigate real-world pollution issues like the Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone.
🔹 Brainstorm ways communities can reduce runoff pollution.

Deep Layer (Advanced Inquiry & Solutions Engineering)

🌳 Key Idea: How can we engineer solutions to prevent runoff pollution?
🔹 Research water treatment systems and biofiltration solutions.
🔹 Design and prototype a runoff mitigation system using filtration models.
🔹 Write a policy proposal for a “green infrastructure” initiative in a local community.

Example Depth Layers Use: A high school teacher assigns students to design and test different filtration methods, comparing their effectiveness in reducing simulated runoff pollution.

Runoff Runaway isn’t just a science experiment—it’s an interdisciplinary exploration of real-world environmental challenges. Growth for Integration allows you to connect the lesson across multiple subjects.

Science + Engineering 🌎

• Study the chemical composition of runoff pollutants.
• Explore filtration techniques and water treatment technologies.
• Apply physics principles (flow rate, absorption, permeability).

Math + Data Analysis 📊

• Measure how much "pollution" (Kool-Aid) enters the water.
• Graph and analyze runoff patterns based on different surfaces.
• Calculate the efficiency of different filtration designs.

Social Studies + Policy 🏛️

• Research government regulations on agricultural and urban runoff.
• Explore case studies of watershed management and conservation efforts.
• Debate ethical issues surrounding land use, conservation, and pollution control.

Art + Communication 🎨📝

• Create infographics or PSA posters to educate communities on water pollution.
• Write a persuasive letter to policymakers advocating for greener cities.
• Illustrate before-and-after visuals of pollution-affected water bodies.
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Example Integration: A middle school social studies teacher pairs Runoff Runaway with a unit on urban development, having students design eco-friendly city models.