Georgia SS7G10.a

Social Studies7th GradeSouthern and Eastern Asia

The Standard

Explain the causes and effects of pollution on the Chang Jiang (Yangtze) and Ganges Rivers.

Georgia Standards of Excellence for Social Studies · Explain the impact of environmental issues across Southern and Eastern Asia.

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify major pollution sources, including untreated sewage, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff. They explain how these pollutants harm drinking water, human health, wildlife, fishing, and communities downstream.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can connect a specific pollution source to a clear effect for each river. They can compare the rivers and support their explanations with accurate geographic evidence.
Common Misconceptions: Students may blame Ganges pollution mainly on religious practices while overlooking sewage, industry, and farm runoff. They may also think pollution affects only nearby cities, not ecosystems and communities downstream.
How to Assess It: Give students a four-box exit ticket labeled cause and effect for each river. Require one accurate cause-effect link in every box.

Lesson moves

Build two river models in trays, add colored water for sewage, factory waste, and fertilizer, then trace each pollutant downstream.
Write a claim explaining which pollution source creates the widest effects, using evidence from maps and short river profiles.
Sort cause and effect cards by river, then race to build three accurate pollution chains for each river.
Compare a local water quality report with data from both rivers, noting shared pollution sources and community effects.

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