Appropriate grades or age groups:
4th grade and up.

Estimated time to complete this project:
Two to three weeks.

Materials:
pH paper and color chart (pH range 3-12)
distilled water
white vinegar
household ammonia
3 small glasses
3 stirring spoons
measuring cup
lake/river/stream/tap waters and jars with lids for each water sample
logbook and pencil
permanent marker

Instructions:
1) Research acid rain and how it gets into your local waters. Is there dumping? How does acid rain affect the animal and plant life around the waters? Ask questions on how acid rain affects humans. Learn how to create your own mini laboratory to check the acidity in substances. Hypothesize on which water sample will be the most acidic.

2) Label three jars vinegar, distilled water and ammonia.

3) Pour the three liquids into the labeled jars.

4) Place a piece of pH paper in each sample. Match the paper to the color chart and record results.

5) Is the vinegar an acid or a base? How does ammonia test? Were you surprised with the results of distilled water?

6) Now that you have an understanding of acids and bases in liquids, gather as many water samples from your neighborhood.

7) Collect tap water from your home, school and local library.

8) Label each jar with your permanent marker to record results.

9) At home, measure and record results of each collected water sample.

10) How acidic is your drinking water? Your lake or pond?

11) Write down a brief discussion of your findings.

12) Make charts to designate the highest acid results of your waters.

13) Were you surprised with your results?

14) Are your local waters in the safe range?

15) This experiment should raise philosophical questions about the future of the environment.

16) Hopefully, your child will become more environmentally conscious as a result.