Environmental Issue: Water
Background Information
The resources listed below are included in this module to help teachers prepare for and conduct their water unit.
Standards in Environment and Ecology addressed:
-
li4.2. Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources
- 3.5.Earth Sciences
3.5.4.D. Recognize the earth's different water resources
3.5.7 D. Explain the behavior and impact of the Earth's water systems - 4.3.7. Environmental Health
4.3.7. A Identify environmental health issues
4.3.7. B Describe how human action affect the health of the environment - 4.9.7. Environmental Laws and Regulations
4.9.7. A Explain the role of environmental law and regulations
4.2.7.C Explain natural resource distribution
General Teacher Resources:
TAP Water- Talking about Pennsylvania Water, American Water Works Assoc.(available for sign-out at the LEA Earth Force office)
Earth Force: Protecting Our Watersheds -A comprehensive action package for educators., Catalog # POW951, Price: $65.00
What's Up With Our Nation's Waters? A brochure for students with a good overview, a test and action suggestions (http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/nationswaters/waterspdf.html)
A Study of Hydropower, For Grades 4 to 8. PPL Cooperation
Books and Publications:
Conserve Water. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the The Watercourse
Obmascip, Mark, 1993, A Consumer's Guide to Water Conservation. American Water Works Association
The Story of Drinking Water. American Water Works Association. 2000
Other Resources
Water Posters from the Tap Water Kit (Groundwater Systems, A Water Treatment Plant, Water Careers, The Water Cycle, A Water System, Use Water Wisely)
The Tap Water Kit is available at the Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force office for sign-out.
Documents on Freshwater:
Glossary A-P; Glossary Q-Z
How Much Water We Have
Where Is It Found
What is the Issue (A Closer Look: Growing Demand and Declining Quality)
Protecting Our Resources (Information on state laws, federal laws, and BMPs)
Are We Running Dry?
Dumping Takes Lake Erie to the Brink
Open Letter to Great Lakes Leaders and the Great Lakes Community
Background References
Websites with Freshwater information:
General Information
- American Rivers - American Rivers is an organiztion dedicated to protecting America's river systems. The website gives information related to this mission.
http://www.amrivers.org - American Water Works Association - The American Water Works Association provides useful water resources and information related to various water topics and issues.
http://www.awwa.org - Classroom for the Future (COTF) - This site offers water education modules on water quality targeted as grades 7 through 12. COTF is helping to bridge the gap between America's classroom and the expertise of NASA scientists. Their mission is to develop curricular materials that improve math, science, geography, and technology education.
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/waterq3/WQmain.html - Drinking Water Publications - on the DEP home page. Listing of fact sheets, Citizen's guides and other publications. Found in the DEP keyword section under: dep drinking water publications
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/wsm/pubs-c.htm - Drinking Water Resources - Randy provides an informative site where visitors can gather helpful information about their drinking water. http://www.cyber-nook.com/water/
- EPA - Water on Tap, A Consumer's Guide to the Nation's Drinking Water - This report provides information about the quality of U.S. drinking water safety, and addresses a variety of concerns that apply to many regions and situations.
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/wot/wtrontap.pdf
- Kimball Media - This site teaches elementary aged children about the water cycle through the adventures of Drippy the Raindrop. One free mini-book can be accessed through the site and other materials can be purchased.
http://www.kimballmedia.com/Drippy/ - National Resources Defense Council - The National Resource Defense Council is dedicated to protecting natural resources. They offer a vast amount of water information and ideas for how to clean up the water.
http://www.nrdc.org/water/default.asp - Project WET (water Education for Teachers) - This site gives resources for teachers including interactive games and inforamtion about how to conduct a "Make a Splash!" water festival.
http://www.projectwet.org - Sierra Club - The Sierra Club's mission is to protect our communities and the planet. The Sierra Club website gives inforamtion about current water issues in the news.
http://www.sierraclub.org/cleanwater - Sustainable Communities Network (SCN) - The SCN links citizens to resources and to one another to create healthy, vital, and sustainable communities. This site gives an extensive list of water-related websites and resource books. http://www.sustainable.org/
- U.S. Geological Survey - This page of the U.S. Geological Survey offers activities for students to explore the effect of acid rain on building stone.
http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eastern/acidrain.html- Water Sourcebooks - This site has activities for K-12 covering Introduction to Water, Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment, Surface Water Resources, Ground Water Resources, Wetlands and Coastal Waters.
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/wsb/index.html- USGS The Learning Web
http://www.usgs.gov/education/index.html- The Water Page - has many useful links to water activities, lesson plans, coloring books, and basic water information.
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/explorer/topic_water.htm- Water Resource Education Network - See Groundwater: A Primer for Pennsylvanians - The primer describes groundwater and discusses issues surrounding groundwater protection and management in Pennsylvania. Clear illustrations help make technical concepts easily understanable. Developed as a tool for citizens and community leaders interested in learning more about groundwater and how to protect it. Good resource about PA's and federal laws that relate to water. It lists video and print resources.
http://pa.lwv.org/wren/pubs/primer.html- Water Environment Federation - The mission of the Water Environment Federation is to preserve and enhance the global water environment. They provide many resources for teachers and students including information about water careers, a water timeline, worksheets, lessons, activities, and an interactive on-line water treatment plant exploration activity.
http://www.wef.org/education and http://www.wef.org/Education/Connection/index.jhtml- The Pennsylvania Water Resources Directory - is a compilation of resources that can be used to enhance audience understanding about topics related to water quality and watersheds. The Directory is printed annually by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD). The online version of the Directory is also revised, ongoing.
http://www.pacd.org/resources/water/introduction.html- Water and Water Quality
http://www.pacd.org/resources/water/WaterQuality.html
http://www.pacd.org/resources/water/Contact.html - U.S. Geological Survey - This page of the U.S. Geological Survey offers activities for students to explore the effect of acid rain on building stone.