PFAS are a group of humanmade chemicals found in thousands of products, such as nonstick cookware and firefighting foam. In recent years, they have been linked to significant health concerns, including cancer. Due to their widespread use, PFAS have contaminated the drinking water across the United Sates. Numerous communities in Wisconsin have reached levels that require residents to drink bottled water.
With Freshwater Collaborative funding, Seyed Javad Amirfakhri at UW-Stevens Point developed a PFAS Education Workshop to help middle and high school educators bring PFAS education into their classrooms. These materials are downloadable and free for any educator to use. If you have questions about the materials, please contact Dr. Amirfakhri at samirfak@uwsp.edu.
The flexible and modifiable presentation allows educators to tailor the lessons to the specific needs of their classrooms and learning communities. Five interactive classroom-ready activities allow teachers to explore the topic with their students.
PFAS Workshop Presentation
A PDF of the workshop presentation provides background about PFAS and their health and environmental impact. It also provides instructions for each of the classroom activities.
Download the full presentation.
Download an educational handout for students.
K-W-L Activity
The goal of this KWL (Know-Want to Know-Learned) activity is to engage students in active learning by assessing their prior knowledge, encouraging curiosity, and reflecting on new insights about PFAS and their impact on the environment and human health. Download K-W-L Activity.
PFAS Scavenger Hunt
The PFAS Scavenger Hunt activity is designed to engage students in an interactive exploration of PFAS sources, impacts, and solutions. Through this hands-on approach, students will develop critical thinking, research, and teamwork skills while gaining a deeper understanding of PFAS in their daily lives and environment. Download PFAS Scavenger Activity.
The Great PFAS Debate: Exploring Perspectives on a Persistent Problem
The Great PFAS Debate activity is designed to engage students in critical thinking and discussion by exploring multiple perspectives on PFAS contamination and its impact. Through this structured debate, students will analyze different viewpoints, strengthen their argumentation skills, and develop a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding PFAS-related issues. Download PFAS Debate Activity.
Filtration Experiment
Students will work as a team to create a water filtration system using an assortment of materials 60 minutes that will produce filtered water with a pH level of 6.5 to 8.5. Download Filtration Activity.
PFAS Contamination Case Study Activity
The Case Study Activity: PFAS Contamination in Westfield, Massachusetts aims to immerse students in a real-world environmental issue, encouraging them to examine the complexities of PFAS contamination from multiple stakeholder perspectives. By engaging in role-based discussions, students will develop a deeper understanding of policy-making, environmental responsibility, and community impact while strengthening their problem-solving and collaboration skills. Download Case Study Activity.