What can we do to prevent a water crisis in our town?

Introduction

[video:https://vhss.oddcast.com/voki_embed_functions.php width:225 height:400 align:center]Written by Danielle Bridge

This WebQuest will create an opportunity for students to build a better understanding of the importance of water for the survival of the human race.

INTRODUCTION

Today, one in six people on earth do not have access to a safe and adequate

water supply. (Asia Society report: Asia’s Next Challenge)

Please watch the following youtube videos

Many third world countries are already suffering from the world water crisis. But, their water crisis is an economical (money) issue. They were born into poverty!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg1iLMnKD-4

(highlight web address and then right click on your mouse, direct arrow down to "open" and click)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLMn2P5q1ho

(highlight web address and then right click on your mouse, direct arrow down to "open" and click)

  [video:[video:[video:

http://www.voki.com/site/pickup?scid=12729403&width=575&height=323&chsm… width:575 height:323 align:center]

We now have evidence that we aren't doing enough to sustain future generations. If we don't change our selfish ways it will definitely mean a painful death for all living things. Why is there no water in 2070? What can we do to re-write history? If we can figure out the signs that determine a water system is no longer sustainable we will have a better chance at saving our own! 

Please watch the following youtube videos

  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9OGvcVA3Gw

(highlight web address and then right click on your mouse, direct arrow down to "open" and click)  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqxMzKLYrZ4

(highlight web address and then right click on your mouse, direct arrow down to "open" and click)  

 

Class, you have been selected to participate in an important mission to find out if Wyaralong Dam has the ability to sustain water into the future. You will need to research and decide as a group what you need to assess to prove that an environment is unhealthy.  Once these factors have been determined you will need to figure out how to determine if Wyaralong Dam will be sustainable for the future. As a group, students will report back to class with their findings.  You have been given three days……….our world is counting on you! Good luck !!

To receive your task please click on the TASK button

Task

Task

   

Teamwork is the only way this task can be completed successfully!

The members of your team have each been hand picked by me. Each team member brings with them superior knowledge, strength and work ethic that will compliment your passion and dedication to make sure future generations can live sustainably.

As a team, you will decide which students in your group will do which task (each person must complete one task). Once all tasks are completed; the group will decide collaboratively how they will present their findings. The presentation will also need to include a final addressing the geographical inquiry question. Teams must work collaboratively, sharing their finding to come to their final conclusion. Teams will present their finds as a group to the class.

 1) Write a letter to the future outlining what you and the local community have done to make sure water is a sustainable resource for the future.                                          

2) Create an annotated poster showing what you and the local community have done to make sure water is a sustainable resource for the future.                                          

3) Create a song or poem to highlight what you and the local community have done to make sure water is a sustainable resource for the future.                  

4) Create a powerpoint to highlight what you and the local community have done to make sure water is a sustainable resource.                                                             

5) Outline different employment opportunities that will help guarantee a sustainable future.

6) Create a slowmation video to highlight what you and the local community have done to make sure water is a sustainable resource.                                  

 

A successful mission depends on teamwork. So work together! Although team members are assigned to one task you can help each other on the tasks as well.  All team members must take part in delivering their findings presentation to the class.

 

Process

Process

1) Response to the future

    The individual completing the letter to the future will:

  • Create a mind map through word of gathered facts (pictures can also be included) to reassure the people of the future that water will be sustainable in 2070.
  • This can be done using a word document or pencil and paper 

The group will:

  • Help choose which facts and pictures to use in the letter

   

2) Create a poster

The individual completing poster will:

    • Create a mind map through word of gathered facts. (pictures can also be included) to use on the poster
    • Create a poster large and neat enough to be read by others
    • use color to make the poster look nice.
    • This can be done on cardboard, through a word document or through                          www.canva.com/design/DABxS26K3dM/prTM-kH0Yjlqdh5vkzdjLA/edit

        The group will:

    • Help choose which facts and pictures to use on the poster                                                                                                                                                       

3) Create a song or poem 

The individual completing song or poem:

  • Create a mind map through word of gathered facts to use in your song or poem
  • Compose a song or poem

The group will:

  • Help choose which facts to use in the song and poem
  • Help with ideas on what to do.

4) Create a map 

The individual completing map will:

  • Create a mind map through word of gathered facts to identify different structures needed for a sustainable future

The group will:

  • Help choose which objects and structures are necessary to make a town sustainable

5) Outline jobs needed to ensure sustainability

The individual creating jobs will:

  • Create a mind map through word of gathered facts to identify different jobs needed to ensure sustainability. (You may also choose to create a mind map for each job)

The group will:

  • Help choose which jobs are necessary to ensure sustainability.

6) Draft a letter to the Priminister of Australia

The individual completing the letter will:

  • Create a mind map through word of gathered facts (pictures can also be included) of the ways we can save water.

  • Research what material to include in the letter.

  • Type a 1-2 page paper, double spaced, 12pt font

  • Have the letter proofread by their group and one adult for mistakes in grammar,  punctuation, and spelling.

The group will:

  • Help choose which facts and pictures will be used in the letter

  • Give ideas on what to include.

  • Proofread the paper before it is turned in.

 

   

 

Resources to use:

Why water is important/water facts:

http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-for-kids/0132-water-is-important-to-lifer.php

http://www.kids-science-experiments.com/waterfacts.html

http://www.njawwa.org/kidsweb/waterfacts/waterfacts.htm

http://www.oceansidecleanwaterprogram.org/kids.asp

Ways to conserve water:

http://www.epa.gov/watersense/kids/simpleways.html

http://life.familyeducation.com/humans-and-environment/conservation/36300.html

http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php

Other helpful sites:

http://www.clarkswcd.org/Kids/KidsHome.htm

http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/water/story_of_water/index.html

If you are done before other groups go to:

http://projectwet.org/use-project-wet/children-water-games/

http://www.epa.gov/watersense/kids/games.html

http://wateruseitwisely.com/kids/tip-tank-game.php

http://www.thewaterfamily.co.uk/index2_content.html

 

Offline Resources:

Hoff, Mary. Oceans (Our Endangered Planet). Lerner Publications, 1992.

Hoff, Mary. Our Endangered Planet: Groundwater. Lerner Publications, 1991.

Hoff, Mary. Our Endangered Planet: Rivers & Lakes. Lerner Publications, 1991

O'Neil, Mary. Water Squeeze. 1991. Discusses the importance of water in our lives and the danger we create when we pollute the water of our planet.

Snodgrass, Mary Ellen. Environmental Awareness-Water Pollution. Bancroft-Sage Publishers, 1991. Discusses the importance of a clean water supply and how water pollution threatens the lives and health of people, animals, and plants. Explains how to contribute to anti-pollution and conservation efforts.

Stille, Darlene R. Water Pollution (A New True Book). Children's Press, 1991. Discusses the benefits of water, its pollution, and the harmful effects of an ways of avoiding water pollution. 

Evaluation

Evaluation

This is how your work will be evaluated.

  Beginning
1		 Developing
4		 Qualified
7		 Exemplary
10		 Score

/10
Reply to the future Gave four or less facts. letter was breif little effort made.   Gave six or less  facts. letter was done a little sloppy. Needs improvements. Gave nine or less  facts. letter was written to an acceptable standard with few errors Gave ten or more facts was written to a high standard with noticeable effort and minor errors
Poster Labeled only a few ways to conserve water. Done sloppy, little to no pictures. Unacceptable to hang up.  Labeled and illustrated less than required. Poster done  sloppy, without much color or pictures. Needs some improvements to be hung up. Labeled and illustrated at least 7 ways to conserve water and presented to the class. Labeled and illustrated neatly 10 ways to conserve water, presented it to the class in a clear voice. Noticeable effort and creativity in presenting and illustrating made.
Song, poem, or short play/skit Presented to the class unprepared. Incorrect information. Little effort made.  Presented to the class, but needs improvements in presenting and creativity.  Some incorrect information.

Presented to the class well.

 Gave correct information. 

Creative effort made.

Creative, insightful. Noticeable time and effort made.

 Gave correct information.

Presented to the class well.

 
Letter to the Priminister

Incomplete letter. Not well thought out.

Many mistakes in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

 Little effort made.

1 page or less in length.

Did not mention everything required.

Mistakes in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

1-2 page paper.

Gave good reasons.

Some mistakes in punctuation and grammar.

1-2 page paper.

Gave many reasons why water conservation is important and way to protect our water.

Well thought out. Good use of grammar and punctuation used.
Group Work Did not work well with others. Uncooperative, unhelpful to group goals. Some difficulties working in the group. Shared ideas and helped others very little. Worked well with the group. Shared some ideas. Helped others when asked. Worked well with everyone in group. Shared ideas. Helped others in the group freely.
Individual Incomplete and late. Little effort made in presentation and work quality.   Completed all tasks but turned in late. More effort needed in work quality and presentation.

Completed all tasks on time. Effort made. Presented well.

 Completed all tasks on time. Creative. Good effort made. Presented well. 
Presentation No eye contact, Couldn't understand (spoke too softly, mumbled). Little eye contact with audience, hard to hear. Used eye contact with audience. Displayed material, spoke loud and clear. Good eye contact. Displayed attractive material. Creative presentation. Spoke well.

Conclusion

Conclusion

Congratulations Team!

You and your team completed your mission. You were able to convince President Obama to help conserve our most important resource: water. You also helped others learn the importance of water and how to conserve water daily. Your efforts have made a great impact on saving our world. Good Job Team!

While on your mission, you learned:

-Why we need water

-What water conservation is

-Some ways to conserve water

-Where to go to learn more about water conservation and play fun games

Credits

Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, andindicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use

https://youtu.be/hh9p8soGNgM water

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fy0YyWZgNA letter from the future

Credits

See Student Resources: 

All images were found 0n bing.com (http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=water+conservation&form=QBIL&qs=n&sk=&sc=8-18#

Author Biography

Patricia Lake
I earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Veterinary Technology and currently work as a veterinary technician. I wanted to go back to college to become a teacher because i love working with students and being able to create excitine projects to interest children. I plan on going in to ESL and working overseas because i think its exciting, rewarding, and it is in demand.

Permissions
We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is granted for others to use and modify this WebQuest for educational, non-commercial purposes as long as the original authorship is credited. The modified WebQuest may be shared only under the same conditions. See the Creative Commons Attribution • Non-Commercial• Share-Alike license for details.

This WebQuest was created in QuestGarden

Teacher Page

by Patricia Lake, Governors State University

This webquest will allow students to explore what water conservation means, why we need to conserve water, and practical ways to conserve water.

Teacher Introduction

                                By: Patricia Lake, Governors State University 

This webquest was designed to help students learn about water conservation. I wanted students to learn why water is important, exactly why we need water conservation, and practical ways they can help conserve water everyday.

I focused on addessing the following Illinois State Standards:

13.B.3e: Identify advantages and disadvantages of natural resource conservation and manage­ment programs.

13.B.3f: Apply classroom-developed criteria to determine the effects of policies on local science and technology issues (e.g., energy consump­tion,  landfills, water quality).

13.B.2f:  Analyze how specific personal and societal choices that humans make affect local, regional and global ecosystems (e.g., lawn and garden care, mass transit).

13.B.2d: Compare the relative effectiveness of reducing, reusing and recycling in actual situations.

13.B.3d:  Analyze the interaction of resource acquisition, technological development and ecosystem impact (e.g., diamond, coal or gold mining; deforestation).

13.B.4d: Analyze local examples of resource use, technology use or conservation programs; document findings; and make recommenda­tions for improvements.

 

I created this website in my EDCP 500 class at Governors State University.My Webquest is titled "Water, Water, Everywhere" and is intended for a 6th grade science class. This webquest will teach students how to work together, collaborate, and how to present effectively. This webquest is a fun way to introduce water conservation and allow the students explore the topic themselves to gather material.

To complete this webquest:

-Assign students in groups of 3-4 student per group. If there is a group of 3, the students can have a choice of which one they want or don't want to do. They will decide as a group who wants which task. The primary responsibility of the task is on one person, but they all need to work together and help each other out to get full group work points. At the end of this webquest, the students will learn: why water is important, what water conservation is, and ways to save water.