WASTEWATER TREATMENT - FRONTLINE ENVIRONMENTALISTS
LESSON 2: A Watershed in My Hand
OUTCOMES: Students will understand the sources of the water we use and the necessity to protect it. Students will describe our local watershed, including how and why to protect it, using a model which they construct..
CONDITIONS: Students will watch a short video in the classroom. They will then construct simple watershed models, also in the classroom. This lesson should take one to two class periods.
ACTIVITIES:
Teacher Student
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¨Obtain the "Streamkeeper" video from the Aquatic Outreach Institute (address in Material Sect.) Play this for the students as an introduction to the lesson. ¨Write the term "Watershed" on the board and ask students if they know what this is. Write their answers also. ¨Provide students with a sheet of construction paper. Have them crumple it up from the middle. Then have them gently partially open it to produce a mountainscape. You may want to try this ahead of time and then model it. ¨Provide "water soluble", colored markers and have the students draw in the landscape, including mountains, valleys, creeks, rivers, lakes, towns, etc. ¨Bring a spray water bottle and have the students spray water over their landscapes representing rainfall. The water will wash some of the colors down through their landscapes. Have them discuss their observations about where the water goes and how it picks things up as is travels. |
¨Watch the video, keeping note of the appearance of the landscapes you see. ¨Provide your best description of a watershed. ¨Crumple your paper, then gently unfold it partially to create a landscape. ¨Draw your landscape based on what you remember. ¨Spray your landscape, making note of what happens as the water spreads around it. Where does it go? What does it take with it? Discuss these things with the rest of the class. |
MATERIALS: "Streamkeeper" ( video borrowed from the Aquatic Outreach Institute, 1327 South 46th Street, #155, Richmond, CA 94804, Ph. (510) 231-5655.), White paper for each student, several packages of water soluble colored marker pens, Spray bottle full of plain water, sheets of white or light brown contruction paper
MODIFICATIONS/ACCOMMODATIONS: Provide "watershed" definition and samples of acceptable work.
ASSESSMENT: Assess on participation, oral descriptions of watershed and reasoning related to the waterflows.
STANDARDS: Science gr 9-12, Ecology: Students know how to analyze changes in an ecosystem resulting from changes in climate, human activitiy, introduction of nonnative species, or changes in population size.